Europe’s recycled aluminium industry is an important component of the global secondary aluminium supply chain, with Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom (UK) representing key national markets. Production across the European region stood at nearly 6 million tonnes in 2023, supported by established scrap recovery systems, industrial recycling capacity and demand for recycled metal. Russia also contributes to the regional landscape through secondary aluminium production units concentrated in several industrial centres. According to AL Circle’s analysis in its report, “ World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry Forecast ”, the four countries present different market structures, from Germany’s substantial recycling capacity and Italy’s scrap-based production to the UK’s organised...
According to SMM survey statistics, the operating rate of the secondary aluminium alloy industry in September was 35.0 per cent, up 3.1 percentage points M-o-M but down 6.7 percentage points Y-o-Y. Industry production continued its recovery trend, but the overall operating level remained below the same period last year. On the demand side, September marked the traditional peak consumption season, with downstream orders recovering from August. End-use demand from automobiles and other sectors improved marginally, but the peak season effect has yet to fully materialise. According to CAAM data, automobile production in September was 2.99 million units, up 11.4 per cent M-o-M but down 8.7 per cent Y-o-Y. NEV production was 1.814 million units, up 12.2 per cent Y-o-Y. CAAM noted that China's...
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400 million aluminium cans, foil trays and aerosols are estimated to be in use every year in Staffordshire. The ‘Make Your Metals Matter’ campaign wants people to recycle all the metal packaging found around their house, including aluminium food and drink cans, household aluminium wrapping foil, foil trays and empty aerosols The used aluminium or metal packaging can be recycled into new products at a far lower cost to the environment than making them from raw materials. The aluminium drinks can from recycled materials save up to 95% of the energy and greenhouse gas emissions needed to make both aluminium and steel from raw materials. The mathematical calculation of aluminium and other metal packaging used in Staffordshire’s homes each year gets collected for recycling; it could save...
Alupro, aluminium recycling trade body, has reportedly asked for 2019 recycle aluminium market development assessments in lights of high PRN prices from the Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) system, even though the targets of the year were being met. According to the data, which is, however, to be finalised in March, around 33,000 tonnes of aluminium were recycled in the fourth quarter of FY20, exceeding the yearly target by 3,000 tonnes to 116,000 tonnes. But Alupro explained that even though the target is met, the quarterly data from the Environment Agency in 2019 suggests a significant volume of PRNs being raised out but not issued. “This resulted in inflated PRN prices, peaking at over £500 per tonne and undermining the credibility of aluminium as a material with enviable recycling...
After three years of back-to-back rise, the aluminium scrap exports from France are estimated to see a slight downfall in 2020, found the international trade data. From 533,972 tonnes in 2019, the export amount is likely to dip by 1.76 per cent to 524,574 tonnes. In 2018, France’s aluminium scrap exports were 497,771 tonnes after growing by 7 per cent from 465,461 tonnes in 2017. The data indicate that France’s aluminium scrap exports in 2019 saw a rise of 7.27 per cent. But despite the estimated de-growth in the export amount in 2020, France is expected to yield more revenue than the previous year. Compared to US$429 million in 2019, France is likely to generate US$440 million this year from its aluminium scrap exports, up 2.56 per cent. 2019 had seen a growth of 4.37 per cent in...
The 2017 balance of the Italian aluminium industry must be placed within the global economic context, characterised during the past three years by an inversion in trend and by slow but continuous growth. Italy’s total volume of Aluminium scrap import from 2017-20 has been posted at 2,419,418 tonnes, which has been amounted to $2.41 billion. The year 2017 shows the import of aluminium scrap at 544,875 tonnes, amounted to payment of foreign revenue $593 million. In 2018 the import raised to 598353 tonnes, a clean sweep of 53,496 tonnes, growth of 9.81%. In 2019 the aluminium scrap import gained its momentum, posted at 648297 tonnes, accounted to $603 million, an inclination of 8.34%, and rise of 49,944 tonnes. The aluminium scrap import for 2020 has been projected at 627,911 tonnes, a...
The Environment Agency reports that 114,748 tonnes of aluminium packaging was collected for recycling in 2019, an increase of 15% from 2018. The data indicates that aluminium has exceeded the 2019 packaging recycling target of 112,200 tonnes (61%). Due to be finalised in March 2020, the data suggests around 34,000 tonnes of aluminium packaging was recycled in the fourth quarter, the strongest quarter of the year and the highest ever reported across the 12-month period. “This exceeds the target and is anticipated to provide a significant carry forward towards next year’s increased targets (61% in 2019 vs 64% in 2020),” the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) said. Rick Hindley, Executive Director for Alupro said, “The data clearly demonstrates another impressive increase in...
The Mission Estate in New Zealand is getting back to old school and environment-friendly in a way to support the clean-up efforts coming up Micheal Buble and Elton John concerts. In 2018 following the Phil Collins’ concert, citizens of New Zealand took to Facebook complaining about rubbish and overflowing bins. This year Hawke's Bay Company Clean Earth Ltd has been working hard with concert organisers to secure the ability of recycling of aluminium is maximised for the concerts at the venue. Deborah Burnside, Director, Clean Earth Director communicated: "Organisers have gone old school again, bringing in apple bins specifically for recyclables and the after-dark clean-up crews are utilising an onsite sorting system of clear and opaque collection bags for aluminium.” School groups would...
The new standards for aluminium scrap metal have been published by China’s market regulator on 19 th Jan’20, elucidating on what materials will be permitted to import in the country from the second half of this year. China is focused to set a target of shrinking solid waste imports to the zero levels by the end of 2020. The State Administration of Market Regulation published that aluminium scrap metal meeting the new standards will be categorised as a resource instead of waste. The new standards declared the aluminium scrap materials with minimum aluminium and aluminium alloy content is set at 100% for recycled aluminium ingots, 98% for aluminium castings and 91% for aluminium blocks. The reactions came up from the China-based aluminium scrap importer that they were not as severe as...
Audubon Metals LLC, located in Henderson, Kentucky, has reportedly selected the city of Corsicana in Texas for building its second aluminium scrap sorting and aluminium alloys production facility. This project is Audubon’s old plan. In 2016, the company had negotiated with Bexar County in Texas to set up the plant there. However, according to the recent report, Audubon has now reached an agreement with officials in Corsicana and Navarro County, Texas, to build the facility there by investing $50 million. Audubon President Brian Hawkes said that as per the agreement, the 95-acre facility is to be located at Highway 31 Industrial Park in Corsicana, employing approximately 100 personnel. Although sever permits are yet to be obtained for building the facility but if construction proceeds as...
Jupiter Aluminum Corporation has become the first facility in the United States to achieve Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Certification. The company’s Hammond, Indiana, USA facility has received Certification demonstrating its commitment to environmental, social and governance performance. The facility melts scrap aluminium to produce common alloy coils for North American markets. The ASI Certification program is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminium value chain. The independent, third-party audit of the Jupiter Aluminum facility was carried out by DNV GL. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of ASI said: “We are delighted to congratulate Jupiter Aluminum Corporation on their ASI Certification, the first to be achieved...
For reducing the dependence on the mining industry for recycling, Apple Inc. will reportedly use a new technology called Daisy robot that will disassemble iPhone parts to recover and reuse the minerals used in making products. Apple says the robot is part of the plan to make the manufacturing process closed-loop which would stop the company from relying on the mining industry. Lisa Jackson, Apple’s head of environment, policy and social, however, clarifies that the company has no competition with the miners and the latter should not fear in this development. Inside a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, Daisy robot breaks apart iPhones so that 14 minerals, including lithium, can be extracted and recycled. Less than 20 yards in length, the robot follows four-step...
Singapore’s first recycling drive for contact lens blisters is EYE FOR EARTH On 3 rd January’20 Capitol Optical, Singapore’s eyewear chain launched its Eye for Earth initiative which encourages contact lens users to recycle the blister packs. Eye for Earth is Singapore’s first dedicated contact lens blisters recycling initiative, which aims to accumulate, sort and recycle contact lens packaging and is hugely supported by local industry partner SembWaste. The contact lens packaging is made of sanitised aluminium and polypropylene, which is highly recyclable with negligible contamination due to the nature of its usage. This increases the chances of re-processing, especially when separated from other plastic recyclables. The Eye for Earth recycling collection system provides consumers with a...
Good airplanes also get scrapped. In the recent past images have shown that an A380, the world’s biggest commercial airplane that has been sent to the scrapyard, generated significant emotional responses. The first A380 to die was when Singapore Airlines Company decided to retire its first A380 a year ago following a decade of service and the second-hand market was down. The frame has been chopped down, ending all the chances for the big bird to fly ever again. The missing sections are mostly aluminum or things like the doors that can be trafficked to other airplanes easily. But the aircraft’s construction includes carbon fiber, glass and GLARE (Glass laminate aluminum reinforced epoxy) for large sections. These material choices help to reduce weight and improve aircraft reliability and...
China’s aluminium scrap imports from the US have been declining over the past few months this year and September was of no exception, as found by the United States Geological Survey. According to the survey data, China in September imported 19,600 tonnes, down by 26.03 per cent from 26,500 tonnes in August. In July, China’s import volume from the US was 31,300 tonnes, which represents the fact that the import in August inched down by 15.33 per cent. In July, the import volume decreased by 1.57 per cent from 31,800 tonnes in June. In total, China’s aluminium scrap imports from the US during June-September amounted to 109,200 tonnes, while that in the total nine months amounted to 300,000 tonnes. Year-on-year, China’s aluminium scrap imports from the United States in September 2019 was down...
The year 2019 saw the announcement of new campaigns and initiatives to encourage and raise awareness for aluminium recycling among consumers. New schemes have been launched in an effort to meet sustainability targets. Showa Denko Group collected about 4.79 million UBC for recycling or recovered about 75 tonnes of aluminium when converted at the rate of 15.7 grams of aluminium per can. The significance of recycling is growing because of the increased focus on sustainably produced aluminium. Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) rallied 200 entities to collect 5267 kg of aluminium cans for recycling in the recent 23rd edition of the Can Collection Day. EEG achieved 77.8 per cent of the target and therefore urged all sectors to achieve the set target of 20,000 kg till December. Let’s take a...
Reverse vending machines were set afloat in Vellore on 26 th December’19, which can control both plastic bottles and beverage cans. Mr. A. Shanmuga Sundaram, District collector of Vellore, Tamil Nadu, while launching the smart dustbins announced the number of steps the Vellore City Municipal Corporation has taken to eliminate single-use plastics. The effort started with positioning two reverse vending machines, one at Block B of the Vellore Collectorate and the other at the Corporation office. The district collector said the public can now discard of beverage cans and plastic bottles in the smart dustbins to prevent congestion of rainwater in the drains. MRF Ltd., Arakkonam donated these ultra-modern smart dustbins as a part of the company’s CSR activities. C. John Daniel, General Manager...
Shanghai Metals Market predicts Chinese aluminium scrap prices to fall after resuming from the Chinese New Year Holiday in late January, as fresh import quotas are expected to ease supply shortages and ensure demand in the first quarter of 2020. On Monday, December 23, China’s environmental authorities issued the first batch of aluminium scrap quotas for 2020, permitting new buying and allowing some companies with cargoes left in limbo to claim shipments to domestic markets. The initial 2020 import quotas have been awarded to eight more companies who obtained such allowances in 2019. In total, more than 50 companies have received the new quotas. Under the new quota, the China Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Bureau allowed 275,465 tonnes of high-grade aluminium scrap imports,...
According to the United States Geological Survey, the aluminium scrap exports from the United States to South Korea in September 2019 remained flat at 23,600 tonnes, as compared to 23,200 tonnes in August. In July, the United States had exported 19,600 tonnes of aluminium scrap to South Korea, which represents the fact that the export amount in August had increased month-on-month by about 18.36 per cent. However, July had seen a dip in the US scrap export to South Korea by 13 per cent, as the amount of export in June was 22,500 tonnes. In total, the United States in those four months exported 88,900 tonnes of aluminium scrap to South Korea, while in the nine months of the year the export amount came in at 203,000 tonnes. During the same period last year (January-September), the US export...
The United States Geological Survey revealed the US aluminium scrap imports in September came in at 47,600 tonnes, up 5.07 per cent from August August. However, in July and August, the country’s aluminium scrap imports declined month-on-month. The United States scrap import volume in June was 54,200 tonnes, which in July inched down by 4.24 per cent to 51,900 tonnes. The amount of import further dropped to 45,300 tonnes in August, recording a decline of 13 per cent. Until September, the United States aluminium scrap imports totalled at 458,000 tonnes, compared with 532,000 tonnes during January-September 2018. This marks a year-on-year decrease of 14 per cent in the United States total aluminium scrap imports from January to September 2019. In September 2018, the United States had...
