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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Will recent meeting of major producers offer welcome rain for alumina prices? SMM reports
The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) summoned domestic major alumina producers, including Chalco, Jinjiang Group, Shandong Xinfa Group, etc. for a meeting in Beijing last Thursday. Persistent declines in alumina prices might be the main reason why the meeting was held, SMM...
Alcoa's Alumina division generates ATOI $109 mln in Q2 2016
Global lightweight metal giant Alcoa posted growth in the combined Upstream division, Alcoa Corporation, for the second quarter 2016. The company's Alumina and Primary Metals segments reported revenue of $2.3 billion, ATOI of $150 million and adjusted EBITDA of $358 million. The total revenue of...
Alumina production steady but returns slide
Alumina says production at its AWAC joint venture with Alcoa held steady through the second quarter, with its returns falling despite improved margins. The ASX-listed Alumina (AWC) said AWAC production came in at 3.2 million tonnes, exactly in line with first quarter numbers. Its total dividends...
Global alumina deficit seen at 4 mln mt in 2016, 2017 by Australia’s DIIS
Australia’s Department of Industry, Innovation & Science has projected global alumina deficits of 4 million mt in 2016 and 2017. Global consumption in 2016 is anticipated to rise 3 per cent year on year to 116 million mt and production to rise 3 per cent to 112 million mt, the DIIS said Friday...
Alumina isn’t Port’s business, say analysts
The Port of Corpus Christi had recently announced that it made a bid to buy the Sherwin Alumina plant, which is in bankruptcy. The Port said it offered $33 million for the plant and offered to spend $13 million in capital, deferred maintenance and environmental improvements if Sherwin Alumina or...
CBIX nudges higher (+2.4%), mixed messages from Malaysia
CBIX rose over the week, up 2.4 per cent (US$1.1) to US$46.9/dmt on the back of higher ViU-priced Guinean material, partially offset by lower ViU-adjusted prices from other regions. Malaysian FOB prices continue to hold their ground, quoted at US$25/dmt to US$26/dmt for unwashed material, with...
Asia alumina: Australia, China dragged by longs, sluggish demand
The Australian alumina daily assessment slipped $1/mt day on day to $239/mt FOB Wednesday, weakened by lackluster demand. Falling Chinese domestic alumina prices, and rising freight rates in Asia have also put downward pressure on the FOB alumina price. In the last two days, smelters have put the...
CBIX up, Malaysian ban to be relaxed
CBIX nudged higher over the week, up 1.5 per cent (US$0.7) to US$45.8/dmt on the back of higher ViU-priced Australian material. Given the current linkages between bauxite prices and alumina prices, we expect to see the former gain further ground, as the rebound in alumina prices begins to flow...
Strong USD, weak fuel prices and bauxite barter lead to lower operating costs at alumina refineries
CRU's recently published Alumina Cost Service, 2016 Edition examines the key themes which had a significant effect on the alumina industry in 2015, including the main drivers behind the significant decrease in world average site costs. Three key themes emerged as particularly notable, including the...
Alumina prices to extend declines on changing supply & demand picture
Alumina prices in China will keep falling as the market is gradually turning from shortfall to surplus, SMM predicts. The pace of capacity restarts and new capacity commissioning in alumina industry is faster than in aluminium industry because alumina production is more flexible than aluminium...
Bauxite prices seeking direction
CBIX eased marginally over the week, down 0.7 per cent (US$0.3) to US$45.1/dmt, with ViU-adjusted prices showing some convergence. Malaysian cargos are beginning to re-enter the market, with prices unchanged at US$25-26/dmt FOB for unwashed material (US$29.4/dmt on a ViU-adjusted basis) and...
Alcoa Inc's EPS forecast increased on back of improved Alumina profits: Rosenblatt
Analyst Chris Olin at Rosenblatt Securities Inc. increased its Earnings per Share (EPS) estimates for Alcoa Inc. The improved EPS estimates reflect an improved profitability outlook for the company’s Alumina segment. The analyst stated that the company appears to be in a better position and could...
Bauxite prices in China show signs of rising
Bauxite prices in China have shown signs of rising, especially in Shanxi province, where more new alumina capacity came on stream than other regions, reported industry sources. Rising alumina prices gave Chinese alumina producers incentive to restart idled capacity or bring online new capacity,...
Australian alumina stable overnight but down $6/mt on week
The Platts Australian alumina daily assessment at $244/mt FOB on Thursday, June 9, was unchanged from a day ago, but has fallen $6/mt in the last week. The market has been under downward pressure from unplaced cargoes in Australia, China, India and the Americas. On Thursday a smelter reported being...
HPA demand in Asia-Pacific to grow at CAGR 13.5% to reach at $4.3 bln by 2022
The worldwide demand for high purity alumina is on the rise. The mineral with purity level equal to or greater than 99.9 per cent finds use in single crystal materials such as sapphires for watch covers, translucent tubes for high-pressure sodium lamps, high-strength ceramic tools and abrasives for...
Bauxite prices higher on Australian cargos
CBIX lifted 3.3% (US$1.5/dmt) over the week, on the back of higher ViU-priced cargos from Australia. This was despite Brazilian material being sold at record low prices into China. Higher Australian prices are no surprise, given the recent rally in alumina prices and the link between bauxite and...
Australian alumina priced out of China by weak yuan, Chinese supply
A well-supplied Chinese domestic alumina market and the depreciating yuan have made Australian alumina increasingly unaffordable for Chinese aluminum smelters, market sources have said in recent weeks. The yuan is at a five-year low, closing Wednesday at Yuan 6.5889 against the dollar. The Chinese...
Bauxite prices in China remain virtually unchanged over the week
Bauxite prices remained virtually unchanged, up 0.3% (US$0.1/dmt), to close at US$44.4/dmt for the week. Several lower ViU-priced cargos from Malaysia were recorded, with their prices balanced by a single, higher ViU cargo from Montenegro recording a CBIX (ViU-adjusted) price of US$53.7/dmt. With...
