
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...
Europe’s aluminium scrap exports to the US have risen by 243 per cent, highlighting a growing concern over the continent’s access to strategic raw materials as it pursues recycling, decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. Evangelos Mytilineos, Executive Chairman of METLEN, raised the issue, linking scrap outflows to the broader challenges facing European industry, energy security and strategic autonomy. Aluminium scrap outflows raise industrial concerns Mytilineos referred to the contrasting US tariff treatment of aluminium products, i.e., a 50 per cent tariff on primary aluminium, compared with zero tariff on scrap . With European aluminium scrap exports to the US increasing by 243 per cent, he questioned whether Europe could strengthen its industrial base while allowing valuable...
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The 83% stakeholder of Alcore Limited, ABx Group Limited made public that its subsidiary has been granted $7.5 million from the Australian Government’s ‘Modern Manufacturing Initiative’ to support its proposed $16.4 million aluminium smelter bath recycling plant in Bell Bay, Tasmania. The proposed plant is acknowledged to be the world’s elemental commercial plant to recycle aluminium smelter bath into valuable chemicals. The plant is propounded to transform 1,600 tonnes per year of aluminium smelter bath into hydrogen fluoride and other industrial chemicals. However, most of the hydrogen fluoride will be further processed into aluminium fluoride, a vital chemical for aluminium smelting, for which Australia presently imports 100% of its requirements. A remarkable benefit of this project is...

The United Kingdom’s aluminium packaging recycling rate reached a new high of 68 percent in 2021, with more than 156,000 tonnes collected for recycling (a 3 percent rise year-on-year). More over four out of every five beverage cans (82 percent) were recycled last year, matching the previous high of 2020. “It’s pleasing news indeed to report yet another record-breaking year for aluminium packaging recycling. While the total UK market size grew, recycling rates kept pace. More importantly still, the vast majority of material was collected through kerbside, bring and on-the-go systems, which maximised the potential for closed-loop recycling,” said Alupro’s executive director, Tom Giddings. Despite a rising domestic market, the amount of aluminium packaging collected through kerbside, carry,...

Following the failure of Orthios, the massive former aluminium plant at Holyhead, and multi-million-pound recycling equipment, are up for sale. The joint administrators have put up for sale the assets of Orthios (Anglesey) Technologies Limited and its subsidiaries, Orthios Feedstock (Anglesey) Limited and Orthios Otech 5 Limited. The 230-acre land can be purchased independently or as part of a package with the assets. After smelting ceased in 2009, Orthios formally took over the Anglesey Aluminium plant in Holyhead in 2016. It established a materials recycling facility (MRF) and was working on a Plastics-to-Oil (P-2-O) unit at the time. “This is a rare chance to acquire a valuable and near-complete green technology asset. Although further investment is required to complete the facility,...

On April 22, Round Bottom Recycling in Milford US was giving US$1 per pound in return of cans that were ready for recycling. This was an Earth Day deal offering consumers nearly double the prevailing cost for aluminium cans. Round bottom employee Lonnie Wilson recalled that the last time the company provided as much money for cans was in 2012, when more than 330 customers cashed in on their cans in one day. “We’re all in a good market right now. The economy is needing aluminum, copper, brass to rebuild the world to recycle and Earth Day is the biggest recycling day of the year,” said Wilson. Owner Zach Moore had stated that business on Earth Day was quite full as customers were receiving good amount for every type of metals they were bringing. Moore will go back to offering 60 cents per...

On April 20, 2022, PyroGenesis Canada Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, provided a comprehensive update on its aluminium business line. The company is highly upgraded and excels in the design, development, manufacturing, and commercialisation of advanced plasma processes and sustainable solutions that aim to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG). Since the release of the company’s initial Aluminium Industry Strategy in September 2020, there has been a huge expansion of the mandate, as global aluminium producers are facing heightened metal demand, rising energy costs, and higher market prices for high-quality aluminium amidst the pressure to reach zero-carbon emission targets. To counter everything, the company has increased sales efforts and R&D, focusing on its innovative new uses of...

Aluminium cans are being paid more at recycling facilities in south-eastern Wisconsin, giving customers an opportunity to profit from the increased demand. Hector Garcia and his colleagues had their hands full sorting cans at All Scrap Metal Recycling in Milwaukee on Friday, April 22. As per Gracia, the cost per can was 60-65 cents a pound a year ago, which has now become around 80 cents. “Been around this for a while, so I’m pretty used to it, the silver lining is we actually pay money for this. My personal opinion is the war in Russia I think a lot has to do with that. The demand is there across the nation, so I think supply and demand is what it is,” added Gracia. Alexandra's firm is giving away free trees to anyone who recycles cans as demand grows. Just last week, the facility...

A fire at the Imperial Aluminum plant in Minerva, Ohio, some 75 miles from Cleveland, had caused significant damage and serious injuries to a worker there. The incident happened on Wednesday, April 20. According to Capt. Mike Hutson of the Sandy Creek Joint Fire District, the victim was working with machinery when water came into touch with a byproduct of smelted aluminium, producing an explosion. When firemen arrived at around 2:54 a.m., about 25 to 30 workers were standing outside. As doctors transported the seriously injured person to Aultman Hospital in Canton, firefighters began battling the blaze, according to Hutson. He explained that the firm smelts aluminium into ingots, which are subsequently exported overseas. According to Hutson, the event damaged the metal building's ceiling...

Among the significant events in the global aluminium recycling business that we've seen this week, one is the news of Ball Corporation creating 90 percent recycled contents. Also, the news of Hawaiian Airlines, the largest operator of commercial flights to and from the Hawaiian Islands in the United States, using recyclable aluminium water bottles in place of plastic bottles, clearly shows that the industry is slowly shifting towards a more sustainable approach. Aluminium recycling has a number of significant environmental and economic benefits. Hydro has started construction of a state-of-the-art aluminium recycling mill in Cassopolis, Michigan. With a crew of roughly 70 persons, production will commence in 2023. Apart from this, Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League...

The largest operator of commercial flights to and from the U.S. state of Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines is offering recyclable aluminium water bottles to replace plastic containers. The Honolulu-based commercial airline is on a run to minimize plastic waste and make it happen by partnering with Jason Mamoa's founded water company Mananalu. Hawaiian Airlines will replace plastic water bottles with infinitely recyclable aluminium containers in its Premium Cabin from 20 th April onwards. The airline is providing Mananalu’s 16-ounce aluminium bottles to its premium guests on all flights to the US East Coast and also international destinations. Avi Mannis, the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Hawaiian Airlines, commented, “We have remained steadfast in our commitment to source more...

The aluminium packaging recycling organisation Alupro has made public the appointment of Martin Hyde as sustainability and public affairs manager. Hyde has remarkable experience in sustainability, legislation and environmental policy as he is joining the company from the producer compliance scheme Comply Direct Ltd. However, during his six-year tenure at Comply Direct, he was very much responsible for delivering consultancy on the packaging, waste electricals, recycling, batteries, carbon, ESG and net-zero to a diverse member portfolio. Hyde, an expert in the circular economy has an intricate understanding of policy changes such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) and the UK Plastic Tax. In his new capacity, Hyde will work closely with Tom Giddings, the...

Founded in 1981, Real Alloy is the global market leader in third-party aluminium recycling and specification alloy making. It converts aluminum scrap and by-products into reusable aluminum. Real Alloy has two plants, both in Coldwater, one on Garfield Road and another situated at Fillmore Road. Tuesday, this week, the Fillmore plant constructed in the south celebrated yet another year of zero safety incidents while the Garfield Road plant has a few more months in hand before it can rejoice for the same. The company has about 190 employees in these two firms adjoined. In spite of a spine chilling wind outside, to encourage the workers, Jim Bopp, Director of Operations and Doug Bryant, Plant Manager began grilling steaks inside a patio heated tent surrounded by all the gleeful employees...

In Cassopolis, Michigan, Hydro has begun building of a state-of-the-art aluminium recycling factory. Production will begin in 2023 with a workforce of about 70 people. The mill will produce 120,000 tonnes of low-carbon aluminium extrusion ingot per year once it is fully operational. A total of USD 150 million is scheduled to be invested. The Cassopolis recycling plant in Michigan will improve Hydro's capacity to deliver recycled aluminium to automakers and other businesses in the United States. Cassopolis will be the first large-scale manufacturing facility in North America for low-carbon Hydro CIRCAL extrusion ingot. “Hydro has been in business for as long as Michigan has been making cars, and this is where our infinitely recyclable aluminum really comes to life. With manufacturers...

Over the preceding three weeks, the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) has collected a total of US$125,508 in donated bottles and aluminium cans with the help of residents around the state to aid Ukrainians in need via Oregon's Bottle Bill. The event took place from March 21 through April 10. Residents donated US$75,508 worth of Oregon bottles and aluminium cans at a 10-cent redemption rate, with the balance matched by the OBRC. The OBRC, which runs the Bottle Drop network, urged Oregonians to donate the value of their 10-cent redeemable bottles and cans to Mercy Corps' Ukraine Fund. Mercy Corp., a relief organisation located in Portland, Oregon, will receive the cash for its aid activities in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. The funds will go toward assisting refugees in obtaining...

Anheuser-Busch, a St. Louis-based brewer and beverage maker, has created a "multi-sports league partnership aimed at reducing waste on game day" with Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) teams. According to the beverage corporation, the National Recycling League will use the size and reach of the brewer's professional sports teams and league affiliations to enhance how the beverage industry promotes recycling. “At Anheuser-Busch, we approach everything we do – including sustainability – with an innovation mindset so that we can create an outsized impact. Through the National Recycling League, we are thrilled to bring together our team partners and sports fans to work towards a shared dream of a future with less game day waste and more cheers,” said Brendan...

Romco Group, located in London and with operations in Nigeria and other African countries, has announced its "most ambitious capex programme to date" for this year, as it seeks to build on record revenues in 2021. Romco in its March quarterly report stated that 2021 was a great year of progress during which it had recycled 18,000 tonnes of aluminium and earned $29.4 million. As per Raymond Onovwigun, Romco switched to compressed natural gas (CNG) to power all of Nigeria's furnaces in 2021, focusing on new trade hubs across Sub-Sahara Africa, and strengthening feedstock lines by boosting its small business buying program by 300 per cent. “With global supply declining and demand increasing, there is an urgent need to ramp up the recycling of existing metals in the supply chain. Demand for...

On 19 th April, the global leader providing infinitely recyclable aluminium beverage packaging and aluminium recycler and supplier Novelis publicized that the Ball Aluminum Cup™ is now created of 90% recycled content. It has been stated that this evolution model the Ball Aluminum Cup’s infinite recyclability by reducing its carbon footprint, therefore further positioning the product as a sustainable solution for packaging waste challenges across the sports and entertainment, food service, retail and beverage industries. The innovative, sustainable aluminium packaging solutions provider for beverage, personal care and household products customers, Ball has designed the lightweight aluminium cups to bring beverage packaging circularity to sports and entertainment venues in response to...

To infuse sustainability in our daily lives, Dencrus, proprietary brand of Amwoodo Eco-Products Pvt., has launched a new collection of oral care, which is biodegradable and endlessly recyclable at the same time. After working on producing sustainable products for the past three years, Dencrus has unveiled bamboo toothbrushes upcycled from aluminium beverage cans. The combination of bamboo heads used in the toothbrush and aluminium handle makes the product endlessly recyclable and one-of-a kind. The bristles of the brush are plant-based made from Castor bean oil, while the bamboo head is from Blumeana Bamboo, which makes the toothbrush 100 per cent biodegradable. Blumeana is one of the fastest-growing plants, a meter per day, producing 35 per cent more oxygen than ordinary trees. Talking...

India’s aluminium scrap imports from the United States recorded a sharp fall in January 2022 by 31,000 tonnes or 73.29 per cent month-on-month, found the US Geological Survey. From 42,300 tonnes in December 2021, India’s aluminium scrap imports from the US plunged to 11,300 tonnes in the preceding month. In December, the imports dropped by 6,600 tonnes or 113.50 per cent from 48,900 tonnes. As the above graph shows, India’s aluminium scrap imports from the US in January 2022 also registered a downfall of 53.11 per cent or 12,800 tonnes year-on-year from 24,100 tonnes. In the final quarter (Q4) of 2021, India imported 147,600 tonnes of aluminium scrap versus 125,500 tonnes in the previous quarter. That was a decrease of 22,100 tonnes or 14.97 per cent quarter-on-quarter. India’s total...