From black shale to smelter feed: CEM advances North American alumina supply chain
Canadian Energy Metals has demonstrated a process for producing smelter-grade alumina from Saskatchewan black shale and has started a prefeasibility study for its Thor Project. Canadian Energy Metals Corp. (CEM) has taken a step towards developing an alternative North American source of alumina...
LME aluminium price chart rises further to $3,325/t; stocks remain stable
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart continues to record an upward trend across the pricing and contract segments on the September 8 trading session, reporting gains over the September 7 close . Opening stocks remained stable, not reporting any further decline. The LME aluminium...
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UC RUSAL posts alumina production growth in third quarter 2015
UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, has announced its operating results for the third quarter 2015. Alumina production for the quarter ended September 30 totaled 1,870 thousand tonnes (+2.8% QoQ). Alumina production for the first nine months of the current financial year stood at 5,496...
Alcoa’s alumina segment generates best profitability since 2007
Alcoa is the largest global bauxite and alumina producer, with a strong first quartile cost position in both businesses. Alcoa reports the earnings of its bauxite mining and alumina refining business under its Alumina segment. The segment supplies alumina to Alcoa’s Primary Metals segment as well...
China aluminum cash cost falls in August on lower power cost
The average cash cost at Chinese aluminum smelters slipped 0.45% month-on-month in August, SMM statistics showed. SMM attributes the decline largely to 1.15% fall in power costs. Some smelters put lower-cost captive power plants into service, dragging down overall power costs. Alumina cost slid...
China alumina imports to fall in Aug after 144% growth in July
China’s alumina imports will fall in August as Chinese alumina is becoming more attractive in prices, Shanghai Metals Market foresees. Sharp depreciation of yuan has made imports more expensive, which will discourage import activity. Calculated at a CIF price of $ 305 per tonne and USD:RMB exchange...
Declining alumina prices hit US caustic soda market
At the start of 2015, those in the alumina industry had a right to feel like things were brightening for the lightweight metal in global markets. The global industry had been grinding its way through a years-built glut of supply that had depressed prices and forced alumina producers in the West to...
Chalco swings to profit in H1 on cost cuts
Aluminum Corp of China Ltd (Chalco) posted a first-half net profit of 27.6 million yuan ($4.31 million), helped by lower production costs and rising sale prices of alumina products. Chalco swung to a net profit in the first quarter of this year after having posted a record loss in 2014 that was...
China alumina output peaks in July, SMM Says
Despite falling alumina prices, China’s alumina output peaked at 4.83 million tonnes in July, SMM data showed. The figure grew 11.6% year-on-year, and was up from June’s 4.72 million tonnes. Large refineries maintained high production due to their cost advantages. China
Alumina price is at its lowest level in China since 2009
Can the alumina price recover in the next six months? This is the question Credit Suisse asks. If China's aluminium smelters ramp up as planned then the shortfall in alumina should peak in the December quarter and push up the price, attracting imports. On the other hand, the broker suspects...
Chinese alumina refineries operating at full capacity despite dropping price
Chinese domestic alumina refineries are still operating at full capacity despite the fall in aluminium price. However, the alumina price has been dropping over the last few months as domestic aluminium smelters buy the raw materials “hand-to-mouth” in view of the falling aluminium price. According...
Alumina Limited downgraded by Goldman Sachs to sell
Goldman Sachs cut shares of Alumina Limited from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning. Goldman Sachs has also modified their ratings on a number of other stocks in the few days. The firm lowered its price target on shares of Lloyds Banking...
Chinese spot alumina prices rangebound as market awaits new direction
Chinese spot alumina prices were rangebound this week as market participants awaited clearer direction amid continued weak domestic aluminum prices and market volatility. Platts ex-works Henan alumina spot price closed the week Friday at a stable Yuan 2,360/mt ($386) for 70:30 cash and credit...
Norsk Hydro Second Quarter 2015 Results: upstream down on weaker prices but downstream up
Hydro's underlying earnings before financial items and tax declined to NOK 2,667 million in the second quarter from NOK 3,208 million in the first quarter of 2015, mainly reflecting lower aluminium prices and premiums. Highlight: • Underlying EBIT of NOK 2,667 million • Record downstream results on...
Alcoa & Nalco getting benefits from alumina and not aluminium
US aluminium giant Alcoa is globally seen as the bellwether for the silvery white metal industry. Such is its standing that every quarter it unofficially kicks off the US earnings seasons. Not surprising, therefore, Alcoa deciding two years ago to start switching off high-cost smelters to stanch...
Alumina Ltd benefits from Alcoa boost
Australian company Alumina Ltd says it received $US71 million in income in the first half, while its joint venture partner Alcoa has announced a small quarterly earnings boost. Alumina is a 40 per cent partner in the global aluminium giant's Australian interests and its chief executive Peter Wasow...
China aluminum costs continue falling in June
The average cash cost at Chinese aluminum smelters fell another 2.55% month-on-month in June , driven by lower alumina and power costs, SMM survey showed. Some smelters have received preferential power tariffs due to China’s power reform, cutting the average power cost by 4.55%. Alumina cost fell...
Flood of Chinese exports sinks aluminium prices
The outlook for aluminium is looking severely pressured for the next few years as excess capacity in China shows no sign of easing, resulting in a more downbeat outlook for Australian-listed miners Rio Tinto, South32 and Alumina. Last week, Macquarie took the knife to its aluminium price forecasts...
China alumina prices drop on growing supply as production costs fall
Prices of alumina in China have fallen more than 10 percent since January and are unlikely to recover this year as lower production costs encourage refineries to boost output, industry sources in the country said. Refiners usually sell alumina to aluminium smelters as it is the key ingredient in...
Chinese aluminum smelting costs fall in May on lower alumina, power costs
The average cost at Chinese aluminum smelters slid 1.0% from a month ago in May, driven by lower alumina and power costs, SMM survey showed. The average weighted alumina price in China's four major regions slipped 2.2% or 57 yuan per tonne month-on-month, and the Bohai-Rim Steam-Coal Price Index...
