AL Circle Analysis: Import rise meets demand growth on aluminium extrusion chessboard
Aluminium’s downstream trade network is getting more fragmented as import dependence, changing end-use demand and trade-policy interventions reshape regional markets. From North America and Europe to Asia-Pacific, the aluminium industry is navigating a market where access to supply, competitive...
US industrial policy needs to be systematic, not just ad hoc – Part 2
Our current approach can win economic skirmishes, but not the geopolitical conflict. – Part 2 Impact #5 of ad hoc industrial policy: Failing to use all required tools Industrial policy is often caricatured as just tariffs and subsidies. Mis-framed debates that evaluate the merits of tariffs in...
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Sam Walsh speaks of expansion plans in aluminium
At the Merrill Lynch global metals, mining and steel conference, Barcelona, Spain, Rio Tinto CEO, Sam Welsh, expressed his desire to continue pushing for growth despite the challenging environment. The tough environment for “subdued pricing and economic uncertainty” a lot of tough decisions had to...
Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation announces secondary offering of common stock by Apollo
Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation announced today the commencement of a secondary public offering of 22,840,000 shares of the Company's common stock by certain funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC (the Selling Stockholders). The Company itself is not selling any shares and will...
Century Aluminum delays lockout at Hawesville, Kentucky Smelter
Century Aluminum of Kentucky General Partnership, a subsidiary of Century Aluminum Company, today delayed the effective time of its potential lockout of USW Local 9423 at its Hawesville, Kentucky smelter in order to allow the union to hold an additional vote on a modified version of the Company's...
Rio Tinto cutting up to 170 positions in Montreal; scaling back use of Alcan name
Rio Tinto is shedding between 110 and 170 jobs in Montreal as the mining company prepares to move early next year into its new Canadian headquarters, with the Alcan name missing from the building. The company said Monday that the staff reductions are part of the London-based company's efforts...
Union leaders want to continue contract negotiations with Century Aluminum
United Steel Work Local 9423 leaders announced they want to continue contract negotiations with Century Aluminum. Union President Mike Gaynor released a statement Wednesday afternoon that says the union urges Century Aluminum management to take back its unfair and unnecessary threat to lockout...
U.S. purchased 770 million pounds of aluminum scrap during February 2015
The U.S. aluminum industry purchased an estimated 770 million pounds of aluminum scrap during February 2015, according to aluminum recycling statistics published by the U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Interior, up 5.7 percent over the February 2014 total of 728 million. USGS estimates that...
U.S. aluminium demand up in the beginning of 2015
Preliminary estimates indicate that aluminum demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 4,133 million pounds during the first two months of 2015, up 2.9 percent over a year ago. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totaled 2,900...
Sapa releases its financial results for 2014 in its Annual Report
Sapa reported EBIT of NOK -317 million in 2014, compared with NOK -4,017 million in 2013. To provide a better understanding of the underlying performance, Sapa focuses on underlying EBIT. Underlying EBIT is defined as EBIT, adding back, impairment charges, restructuring cost and unrealized hedge...
U.S. aluminium premiums falling back into line with Europe
More available aluminium means the surcharges that U.S. consumers pay are narrowing into line with costs paid in Asia and Europe, and the regional gap could be closed by the end of the year. Strong U.S. demand for aluminium used in transport and packaging, long queues to get material out of London...
Rexam awards suppliers for excellence
Rexam, a leading beverage can manufacturer, recently celebrated the award-winning achievements of six of its top U.S. suppliers. The Rexam Supplier Excellence Award program, now in its 12th year, acknowledges the suppliers that consistently ensure reliability, quality, innovation and cost...
Rexam issues its Q1 trading update
Rexam, a leading global beverage can maker, is today issuing the following trading update for the period from 1 January 2015. Results for the Group are in line with our plans. Overall global beverage can volumes were up 5% (3.5% excluding the acquisition of UAC) in the first quarter. Volumes in...
Demolitions to begin at Columbia Falls Aluminium Company plant
The long shuttered Columbia Falls Aluminium Company plant will now finally be demolished so that the property can be used for other purposes, the company announced. Some of the buildings in the property have been around for 50 years so salvage program has been initiated by CFAC and Calbag Resources...
Century Aluminium running out of time to restart Ravenswood plant
Century Aluminum’s Ravenswood plant is facing troubles again as it is unable to secure a viable power rate plan and is running out of time. The power plan requested by the struggling plant cannot be approved without the consensus of the Public Service Commission said Appalachian Power but Century...
Thor Industries acquires Elkhart-based Postle Aluminum Co.
Thor Industries, a leading manufacturer of Recreational Vehicle (RV) has acquired Elkhart-based Postle Aluminum Co., according to their announcement on Friday, paying $144 million for the company. The company and its subsidiaries are one of the prime customers for Postle Aluminum thanks to the...
GM is investing $5.4 billion to improve in US factories
General Motors announced today that it is investing $US5.4 billion over the next three years to expand and upgrade its US production facilities. This round of capital investments is expected to put the automaker’s domestic factories in a better position to handle upcoming new models GM is set to...
National Recycling curriculum pilots set to launch within schools in New York, Maryland, and Michigan
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), the Voice of the Recycling Industry™, announced today the launch of three school recycling curriculum pilots in Staten Island, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; and Kalamazoo, Michigan. These pilots combine standards-based lessons that teach the...
Noranda announces ruling by missouri public service commission that reduces electricity rates for new Madrid Smelter
Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation reported today that the Missouri Public Service Commission has established a new and reduced electricity rate structure for the Company's aluminum smelter in New Madrid, Missouri (New Madrid). "Securing a reduced rate for our single largest cost is an important...
Century reports first quarter 2015 financial results
Century Aluminum Company reported net income of $73.8 million ($0.76 per common share) for the first quarter of 2015. Results include $6.5 million ($0.07 per common share) for an unrealized gain on fair value of contingent consideration related to the acquisition of the remaining 50.3% interest of...
