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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According to the data released by the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s secondary aluminium producers’ operating rates increased by 6.6 percentage points month-on-month in September to stand at 59.6 per cent. In August 2020, China’s secondary aluminium operating rates were 53.1 per cent gaining 2.8 percentage points over the month. However, despite the significant growth month-on-month, secondary aluminium producers operating rates in September stood down over the year by 1.1 percentage points. Imports of aluminium scrap into China decreased due to lesser quotas and also the output of domestic scrap aluminium amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, arrivals of imported aluminium alloy ingots decreased too in September as the arbitrage window was closed in early August. Demand, however,...
In the 21st century, Vietnam is in a period of being integrated into the global economy. Almost all Vietnamese enterprises are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The government has targeted a 2 to 2.5% economic growth for 2020 with an aim of 6.5% in 2021. The latest figures from the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) give an overview of Vietnam's performance in the first nine months of 2020. The Southeast Asian nation’s import of aluminium scrap during 2018-19 was recorded at 63,249 tonnes and the expenditure occurred during the import remained at $33.28 million. The import for 2020 has been expected to reach at 63,829 tonnes and the expenditure to stand at $34.54 million; when the import volume and expenditure of the preceding two years gets assorted, it reflects 127,078 tonnes...
On 20 th October’20, The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) released global aluminium recycling data. According to figures from the IAI, recycling of just one aluminium can conserve enough energy to recharge up to 20 mobile phones, while global aluminium recycling saves enough energy every year to power the whole of France. Marlen Bertram, IAI’s Director - Product Stewardship, commented on the recycling data: “Aluminium is one of the most recycled materials on earth. Today, the global recycling efficiency rate is 76%. High recycling rates in all regions underline the economic and environmental value of aluminium scrap. With comprehensive statistical data and pioneering material flow analysis, the IAI can track scrap globally from source to consumer by-product, quality, form and...
Oman is heavily dependent on oil and gas resources, which generates between and 68% and 85% of government revenue, depending on fluctuations in commodity prices. The key components of the government's diversification strategy are tourism, shipping and logistics, mining, manufacturing, and aquaculture. Oman's economy is expected to contract in 2020 due to the oil price slide and the COVID-19 public health response. An increase in gas output and infrastructure spending plans will help growth recover over 2021-22. Rigid recurrent spending will keep public debt high, estimated to exceed 70% of GDP in 2020 and beyond. The gulf nation’s export of aluminium scrap during 2018-19 has been recorded at 30,329 tonnes and the revenue generated through this export remained at $30.82 million. The export...
Dutch furniture and interior designer Richard Hutten worked with award-winning design label for contract furniture and office furniture, Lensvelt to develop 27,000 new seats for Amsterdam's Schiphol airport that make use of the building's existing resources. According to Richard Hutten, this: "radical new way to produce a product emits 95% less carbon in its production than any comparable product.” The designer followed circular design principles, with all of the seats' constituent materials being either recycled, recyclable or biodegradable. It begins with the frame, which is cast from aluminium that was recovered from the airport's previous, unserviceable seats that would otherwise have been discarded. The process not only helped to conserve resources but also energy, as recycling...
The economy of Denmark is a modern mixed economy with comfortable living standards, a high level of government services and transfers, and a high dependence on foreign trade. As a small open economy, Denmark generally advocates a liberal trade policy, and its exports, as well as imports, make up circa 50% of GDP. According to the updated IMF forecasts from 14th April 2020, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, GDP growth is expected to fall to -6.5% in 2020 and pick up to 6% in 2021, subject to the post-pandemic global economic recovery. The Scandinavian nation’s aluminium scrap export during 2018-19 has been recorded at 272,005 tonnes and the revenue generated from the export remained at $225.20 million. The export for 2020 is expected to reach at 118,212 tonnes and earnings to stand at...
Panama has been the fastest-growing economy in Latin America over the past two decades, benefiting from the activity of the canal, the Colon free trade zone (CFZ) and its role as an international banking centre and regional financial hub. The economy of Panama is based mainly on the services sector, which accounts for nearly 80% of its GDP and accounts for most of its foreign income. Panama is a high-income economy with a history of low inflation. The transcontinental country in Central America and South America has recorded its aluminium scrap export during 2017-19 at 15,569 tonnes and which paved revenue earnings of $12.78 million to the nation. The export for 2020 has been evaluated at 12,141 tonnes, the highest in the phase and earnings to stand at $9.55 million, however, when the...
Eamon Michael Ryan, an Irish Green Party politician, has reportedly proposed a new idea to give people 20 cents a can for returning their empties. Ryan, who has also served as a Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, is proposing the idea to boost recycling numbers. Ryan believes the deposit return scheme will see consumers able to bring back empty aluminium cans or plastic bottles. But before introducing the new scheme, the Minister intends to acquire feedback from punters and the industry, and for that matter, he has launched a public consultation process. He said: “If we are to get the benefits of a circular economy, we need to adapt our approach to how we use and manage our resources.” “We must strive to keep resources in circulation for...
Bulgaria is ranked 19th among 45 countries in the Europe region, and its overall score is just above the regional average and well above the world average. Bulgaria has been making steady progress in economic freedom for more than a decade, and this year, its economy has finally entered the ranks of the freest. However, Bulgaria's economy declined by 10% in the second quarter of 2020, according to preliminary data announced by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) on 4 th September, exceeding the statistics body's earlier flash estimate that put the drop at 9.8%. The Balkan nation’s aluminium scrap export during 2018-19 was recorded at 64,049 tonnes and revenue generation remained at $78.39 million. The export for 2020 has been marked at 31,340 tonnes and earnings to stand at $29.92...
South Korea's imports of aluminium scrap from the US stood at 24,600 tonnes in July, with a year-on-year increase of 25.5%. South Korea had imported 19,600 tonnes in July 2019. On a month-on-month comparison, imports rose 14% from 21,600 tonnes in June 2020, as updated by the US Census Bureau. South Korea imported 166,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap in the first seven months of 2020, from 157,000 tonnes imported in the first seven months of 2019. This marked an increase of 5.73% year-on-year. South Korea's imports of total aluminium (semi-finished products, crude metals and alloy and scrap) from the US stood at 26,500 tonnes in July 2020, up23.26% from 21,500 tonnes in July 2019. Imports climbed by 13% from 23,500 tonnes in June 2020. In January-July 2020, total imports stood at 181,000...
Visy, the global leader in packaging and resource recovery achieved record growth in August, as consumers switching from plastic packaging to aluminium among others. Visy said: “Sales in August were up by a third on the same month in the previous year, and by 28% over the July figure.” The company says it was the highest month-on-month growth since the death of founder Richard Pratt in 2009. Since then the company has been run by his son, Anthony Pratt. Pratt said: “Lockdown meant consumers were not drinking beer out of plastic cups at events – but were drinking it out of glass and aluminium at home and having it delivered in cardboard packaging – and that all contributed to the record rise in revenue.” Visy is in business for 70 years, with over 5000 employees and is operating in more...
The US exports of aluminium scrap stood at 158,000 tonnes in July 2020, with a year-on-year increase of 3.95%, according to the latest report from the US Geological Survey. On a month-on-month comparison, exports climbed by 5.33% from June’s export volume of 150,000 tonnes. The US exported 1.010 million tonnes of aluminium scrap in the first seven months of 2020, from 1.1 million tonnes exported in the first seven months of 2019. This records a decrease of 8.18% or 90,000 tonnes. The US exports of aluminium scrap to Malaysia came in at 48,900 tonnes in July 2020. Exports increased by 146.97% year-on-year and 28.35% month-on-month. The US had exported 19,800 tonnes and 38,100 tonnes in July 2019 and June 2020, respectively. Exports of aluminium scrap to Malaysia registered 79.83%...
The European Aluminium web workshop on investing in better collection and sorting of used aluminium packaging for recycling stressed enough on the importance of the Circular Economy. Many speakers spoke about the need for more investment into the complete cycle of aluminium packaging, sorting and recycling for achieving better results. Also, a recent study by HTP1 performed for the Packaging Group European Aluminium demonstrated that investment in Circular Economy really pays off. Both Andy Doran, chairman of the Packaging Group, and Michael Langen of HTP, a leading German consultancy on waste management, pointed out that by using a second Eddy Current Separator2 for the aluminium fraction in a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) or sorting station for lightweight packaging, 30% more...
The growth of aluminium cans in the global market seems to be becoming insurmountable owing to the factors like disposable income of people, changing lifestyle, and evolving consumer preferences. Continuous shifts from plastic bottles to aluminium cans have triggered the demand further. Initiatives taken by some of the leading companies, such as Coca-Cola and Pepsico in the US and Toast Ale and Svyatoy Istochnik in Europe, to switch to aluminium cans from plastic bottles have already done several roundups in the market this year. They are either replacing their existing products range or launching new ones in aluminium cans. Aluminium cans production and uses According to a report, the global aluminium cans market approximately generated US$39.41 billion in 2018, which by 2025 is...
According to the latest data shared by the US Geological Survey, India imported 21,700 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the United States in July 2020 versus 12,800 tonnes in June. This means India secured 8,900 tonnes or 69.53 per cent more scrap in July than the previous month. The USGS data found that India’s aluminium scrap imports from the United States have been increasing month-on-month since June. From 4,190 tonnes in May, India’s aluminium scrap imports in June increased by 8,610 tonnes or 205 per cent to stand at 12,800 tonnes. However, the imports in May stood down from 10,400 tonnes in April 2020. On a year-on-year basis, India’s aluminium scrap imports from the US remained almost flat in July 2020 compared to 21,400 tonnes during the same period last year. In the first seven...
Viridor has extended dry mixed recycling contract with Kent County Council for a further 12 months. The new £6.2-million contract covers more than 62,000 tonnes of recycling, including glass, paper, card, household plastics and aluminium cans from Ashford, Maidstone, Swale, Gravesham, Dartford and parts of Royal Tunbridge Wells and Malling. The new agreement would see Kent County Council’s recycling processed through Viridor’s Crayford Materials Recycling Facility. The facility receives 300,000 tonnes of co-mingled recyclate from 29 local authorities each year. Simon Prior, Head of Local Authority Development and Integrated Contracts at Viridor, said: “A crucial aspect of this contract has been Viridor’s ability to demonstrate the onward journey of recycling, particularly plastic, through...
Azelio, the Swedish game-changing firm towards the future of solar energy and Stena Aluminum, the leading producer of aluminium alloys from recycled material in the Nordic region are planning to enter into a long-term global collaboration that aims to accomplish Azelio’s energy storage units by filling them with recycled molten aluminium directly at a dedicated production line at Stena Aluminium. The outlook is a breakthrough in the industrialization of the product that will result in large energy savings, giving Azelio’s energy storage system an even stronger climate profile. Jonas Eklind, CEO, Azelio said: “Circular economy is central to Azelio’s offering. We store renewable energy in a recycled raw material which also has the beneficial properties of not losing storage capacity over...
Recycling initiative Every Can Counts launches new recycling-themed filter game on Instagram and Facebook in a Recycle Week 2020. Every Can Counts’ new AR filter game “Catch ‘Em If You Can” to encourage drink can recycling. It offers players the chance to win a PlayStation 5. Chris Latham-Warde, Every Can Counts UK Programme Manager said: “We know gamers often enjoy drink cans, so this Recycle Week we’re embracing their world with the launch of our new filter game. “Catch ‘Em If You Can” gives gamers and social media users the opportunity to have fun while learning about the benefits of recycling drink cans. We’ve designed the game so that it raises awareness of the wide variety of products that can be produced from recycled drink cans, whether that’s producing brand new drink cans or...
