Aluminium’s trade map is no longer drawn by smelters alone. Scrap flows, power contracts, industrial policy and specialist grades now shape who secures metal, at what cost and under whose rules. Ten recent developments across Europe, the US, Australia, Japan and Mexico show how recycling, energy and regulation are becoming the new levers of aluminium competitiveness. They also show where traders, exporters and policymakers may need to adjust. Scrap tug-of-war: the US pull, Europe’s leak and the recycling base at stake The pull starts with price. The US UBC scrap benchmark averaged USD 2,322.89 a tonne in July, USD 2,491.22 in August and USD 2,602.51 in September. That is a 12 per cent climb, and it came after a July that opened at USD 2,464.98 and fell to USD 2,270.76 within two days....
Nespresso is expanding its aluminium coffee capsule recycling network across New Zealand, adding 25 JB Hi-Fi stores as collection points and bringing the total number of participating retail locations to 138. The move gives coffee drinkers more places to return used capsules, helping make recycling a little easier after that final, satisfying sip. The new collection points join existing locations at Briscoes and Noel Leeming stores. The expansion also complements other return options available through Nespresso, including its boutiques, public collection points, NZ Post drop-off locations and courier collections from customers’ homes. The aim is to make returning used capsules more convenient, recognising that a single collection method will not work for everyone. For those who enjoy...
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AmeyCespa, which bought the recycling plant at Waterbeach from Donarbon for £48.6 million in 2010, will start construction on the new building shortly which will increase the county's green credentials. The plant, which will create additional jobs, should be operational by December. Although it will not have an effect on the waste management of the city - Cambridge City Council has a contract with recycling company Viridor which lasts until 2015 - the site will help process waste from South Cambridgeshire's blue bins. Amey Cespa has said the initial capacity of 60,000 tonnes could be increased to 100,000 allowing the company to bid for the recycling contracts of other councils as well as taking additional rubbish from local businesses. Sarah Clover, account director for AmeyCespa East,...
Japanese major secondary aluminum alloy makers including Daiki Aluminum Industry aim to keep the alloy selling price unchanged for January shipment. The alloy makers expect the price is supported by bottom hitting domestic aluminum scrap market price and rebound of overseas primary aluminum market price. The alloy price negotiations with alloy users, mainly automotive component makers will almost close next week. The alloy price lowered by JPY 2 per kilogram to JPY 3 per kilogram for December shipment when aluminum scrap market price was weak. In the second week of January, primary aluminum price at London Metal Exchange strongly surged and Japanese aluminum scrap market prices hit bottom for major alloy makers' January procurement. The alloy users of automotive component makers request...
Trademark Metals Recycling (TMR), a wholly owned subsidiary of The David J. Joseph Company (DJJ), a Cincinnati-based subsidiary of Nucor Corp., has purchased the assets and business of Gulf Coast Metals, headquartered in Tampa, Fla. Gulf Coast Metals, established in 1981, operates four facilities in Florida, including a secondary aluminum melting operation in Tampa, which the company says is the state’s largest secondary aluminum melting operation. Gulf Coast’s three other recycling facilities are located in Gainesville, Sarasota and Tampa. All three locations provide full-service metal recycling, buying all grades of ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal. According to a DJJ release, the addition of the four locations is consistent with TMR’s growth strategy and demonstrates DJJ’s commitment...
The Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER) announced today that Alcoa, the world’s leading aluminum producer, and Waste Management Recycle America, North America’s leading provider of integrated environmental solutions, have joined the alliance. CAER represents U.S. companies that believe electronics recycling should be performed securely and sustainably for the benefit of the American economy. “Alcoa’s partnership with the largest electronics recycler in the U.S., Electronic Recyclers International, provides both an economic and environmental solution to e-waste” As members of the Coalition, Waste Management Recycle America and Alcoa endorse passage of the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act, introduced last June. This legislation prohibits U.S. export of certain...
The Aluminum Association is pleased to announce the addition of our newest member, Chadwick Engineering Ltd. Chadwick Engineering joins the Association as an Associate member; Associate members are a critical part of the North American aluminum industry providing direct services to firms that produce or recycle aluminum. Jason Chadwick, Vice-President of Chadwick Engineering, will serve as the official representative to the Aluminum Association. Mr. Chadwick said, "The Aluminum Association is directly involved in key areas that impact Chadwick Engineering and our clients. Membership in the Association and participation in its activities is not only sound business practice but provides the opportunity to engage and shape the future direction of the industry." Chadwick Engineering...
Members of Teamsters Local 371 remained on the picket line today after walking off their jobs Friday at Nichols Aluminum when negotiations on a new contract reached an impasse. The union went on strike at 4:30 p.m. Friday, said Thomas Brackmann, president of the west Davenport manufacturer. The two sides said they have not communicated since Friday, and no plans for coming back to the negotiating table are scheduled. “We have not heard anything. We have said we were willing to go back to the table, and they know that,” said Howard Spoon, Local 371 president. “We are willing to go back to the table any day. I am thinking the company is waiting to see how long my members will be out there.” “We have heard nothing from the union since they decided to go out at 4:30 p.m. Friday,” Brackmann...
Platts Report: The aluminum alloy market – strong but beset with uncertainty – examines in detail activity throughout the sector and beyond, in Europe, the US and Asia over the past few months and helps bring focus to the outlook of Q1 2012. The automotive industry is a major consumer of secondary aluminum alloys. But how will weak demand and concerns over European and US debt and budgetary issues impact global demand in Q1 2012 Despite some falling prices, some diecasters are still buying cautiously on the spot market, but will this continue into 2012? Scrap also remains a concern as merchants are happy to sit on stock until prices rise again – but will they? Fill in your details to download this special report and gain insight into the volatile world of secondary aluminum.
Physical aluminium alloy prices jumped Eur30-40/mt ($39-52/mt) in Europe this week as fresh spot buying interest emerged in spite of concerns over future demand levels and the economic health of the eurozone. Sentiment was cautiously optimistic at the Euroguss Fair in Nuremberg, Germany, which was attended by many players in the European secondary aluminium industry this week. The price of 226 alloy was said to be rising daily this week as many buyers ended 2011 with extremely low stock levels on uncertainty over 2012 consumption levels, and have come back to the market seeking material for February and March delivery. Physical 226 prices had been on a downtrend since the summer, falling some Eur200/mt between August and December 2011. Since the first week of trading in January, alloy...
North American secondary aluminum demand will grow over the next few years as diecasters are expected to need more of this product for automotive parts, Gary Borner, vice president of secondary aluminum producer Spectro Alloys, said Tuesday. Diecasting shipments are forecast to grow by 8% and automotive shipments by 11% in 2012, Borner said at the Platts Aluminum Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "I believe today more than ever our industry of secondary aluminum recyclers is the healthiest it's ever been," he said. He said Spectro's sales revenue was strong in 2011, at $225 million. Borner forecasted scrap exports would continue to grow along with domestic market segments. In addition, he said newer markets for aluminum scrap will continue to grow.
Chinese largest maker of secondary alloyed aluminium, Sigma Group will increase the production by 18% to 450,000 tonnes in 2012 from 2011. The firm plans 200,000 tonnes of export. Chairman Mr Tony Huang said the firm targets 100,000 tonnes to 200,000 tonnes of export to the largest destination of Japan. The firm also improves the cost competitiveness by adding shredder machine and heavy liquid separator at each plant. Mr Huang said to a reporter of Japan Metal Bulletin the firm's production decreased slightly to 380,000 tonnes in 2011 from 2010. The export was 150,000 tonnes including 90,000 tonnes for Japan. The firm estimates the consolidated sales were USD 1 billion as previous year. The group company, Shanghai Sigma Metals is working for expansion of melting furnaces since late 2011....
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When the television show Extreme Makeover-Home Edition came to Knoxville, Tennessee, to renovate a home this week, Alcoa Recycling picked up its tools and volunteered its services along with local construction contractors and laborers. Alcoa’s “tools” came in the form of donating water in recyclable aluminum cans and recycling bins for the job site. “Special events such as ‘Extreme Makeover – Home Edition’ provide great opportunities to reinforce the importance of recycling,” said Beth Schmitt, director of recycling programs for Alcoa. The recycling bins are used for on-site collection of cans and bottles at the EMHE work site, the catering venues, and the VIP tent. “Recycling should be an everyday activity that’s as automatic as wearing a seatbelt when...
Keep Kids Connected, a local nonprofit organization that provides Netbook computers to kids with cancer or other life-threatening illness, will be hosting an aluminum beverage can recycling day on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Tradition Bank branch located on Pin Oak in Katy. The tabs are removed from the cans and donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Houston and the cans are recycled with the proceeds used to purchase computers. Please stop by to donate your aluminum cans and visit www.keepkidsconnected.org to learn more about the organization.
Boy Scout Troop 178, chartered by the Morton United Methodist Men, continues to actively collect and recycle aluminum cans to fund local scouting activities. Crushed or uncrushed cans in plastic bags may be deposited in the metal collection bin located at the back of the lot on the west side of Mike Murphy Ford on Jackson Street in Morton. Cans are regularly removed and taken to a local recycling center. Contributions to the effort have a positive environmental impact and provide funds for local Scouts.
BIR: The following article is based on the latest Non-Ferrous World Mirror produced by the BIR world recycling body for the benefit of its members. A stuttering start to 2012 has been influenced by the unusual circumstance that Christmas/New Year festivities in many parts of the world are separated from Chinese New Year celebrations by a mere 13 working days. Some works in Europe were not due to reopen to scrap suppliers until January 9 while countries such as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand are still on their long summer breaks. Generally slow trading activity has coincided with continuing concerns over the economic outlook, particularly in Europe. Despite December clear-outs in some parts of the world, it was a quiet month in many other regions. In the Middle East, for example,...
Oman has the potential to become a major aluminium recycling centre servicing the industry across the GCC in the future, an industry leader told delegates who attended the ARABAL 2011 conference in Oman - the 15th time the event has been held. Frederic Rouyer, the Chief Executive of Oman Aluminium Processing Industries LLC (OAPIL) told delegates at the Sohar Aluminium hosted event in Muscat about the huge untapped potential for the creation of a viable aluminium recycling industry in the Gulf. He explained that the amount of aluminium scrap produced in the GCC during the downstream process was set to double to an estimated 270,000 metric tonnes per annum by 2020 as the Gulf becomes an increasingly centre of global importance for the industry. Mr. Rouyer explained that recycling was a...
Wherever you are this summer, party the environmentally friendly way by recycling all of your aluminium cans. Alcoa, Planet Ark and eight-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley have joined forces in a campaign aimed at increasing the number of recycled cans. Planet Ark’s Brad Gray said there was no excuse considering the number of recycling bins on site at music festivals, open-air cinemas and markets this summer. “Thanks to the support of Alcoa, recycling in Anglesea has been made easier through their provision of public place bins,” he said. “This puts Anglesea ahead of many other locations including some of Australia’s biggest cities.” Making one aluminium can from recycled material uses just five per cent of the energy needed to make one from virgin material. Aluminium doesn’t...
Novelis, one of the largest producers of aluminum rolled products, has signed a multi-year agreement with Coca-Cola North America to furnish the beverage giant supplies for its cans. Terms of the deal, including its length, were not disclosed. Atlanta-based Novelis, a long-time supplier of aluminum can sheet for Coca-Cola Bottlers' Sales & Services Company LLC, will provide aluminum body and tab stock for cans for the company's various beverages. "Coca-Cola has been a highly valued customer for many years and we are pleased that this new agreement allows us to continue to bring the recycling and sustainability benefits of the aluminum can to drinkers of Coca-Cola products throughout North America, "said Phil Martens, Novelis president and chief executive officer said in a release. Novelis...
According to Japan Aluminium Refiners Association, Japanese secondary aluminium and alloyed aluminium ingot output decreased by 0.7% to 69,710 tonnes in November from a year earlier. The shipment decreased by 1.1% to 69,904 tonnes. The output decreased for the first time in 3 months and the shipment decreased for the first time in 4 months. The volume decreased when some users reduced the production due to the impact of Thai flood. The shipment decreased for casting and flat rolled products in November from a year earlier. The shipment for flat rolled products decreased for 2 months in a row due to rebound of excess output after the major earthquake. The secondary aluminium and alloyed aluminium makers' raw material purchase increased by only 0.1% from domestic industry in November from a...
