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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Canadian Trade Tribunal initiates probe on aluminum extrusions from China
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal initiated an expiry review of its findings made on March 17, 2009, in Inquiry No. NQ-2008-003, and as amended on February 10, 2011, in Inquiry No. NQ-2008-003R, concerning the dumping and subsidizing of aluminum extrusions from the People’s Republic of...
LDC backs funding deal to enable aerospace supplier's expansion
Private equity house LDC has completed its re-investment in MB Aerospace, alongside Arlington Capital Partners in support of MB’s acquisition of Delta Industries. The deal enables MB to consolidate its position in the aero engine precision components market. Headquartered in Motherwell and with...
US firm leads $1 billion credit facility for Novelis Inc.
Wells Fargo Capital Finance, part of Wells Fargo & Company, announced it acted as left lead arranger, book manager, and administrative agent on a $1 billion, multi-currency, senior secured revolving credit facility for Novelis, Inc. The credit facility refinanced Novelis’ existing credit facility,...
US agency orders cleanup plan for Century Aluminum plant
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered Century Aluminum of West Virginia to develop an updated cleanup plan for a former industrial facility in Ravenswood, W.Va., that was used for the storage and disposal of hazardous materials that were byproducts of aluminum production. EPA...
Edmonton pioneers the use of aluminum electric cable in oil pipelines
Edmonton became the North American pioneer in the commercial use of aluminum electric cable in an oil-filled pipeline. The eight-km cable was laid from the power plant to the Woodcroft substation under construction at 118th Avenue and 142nd Street. C.Z. Monaghan, Superintendent of the City of...
US Court approves sale of bankrupt aluminum smelter
Operations at Ormet Corp. are expected to continue as usual after a federal judge approved the sale of the company for $221 million to Smelter Acquisition LLC, a subsidiary of Minnesota-based Wayzata Investment Partners. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware on Tuesday approved the sale of all...
Century Aluminum buys Sebree Kentucky aluminum smelter from Rio Tinto
Century Aluminum Co. announced Monday that it had completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the nearly 500-employee plant from Rio Tinto Alcan. With this acquisition the Sebree, Ky., aluminum smelter now has the fifth owner in its 40-year history. “We are really happy to...
Midwest spot aluminum premiums rise
Midwest aluminum premiums rose slightly over the past week amid concerns about metal supplies as material continues to be tied up in financing deals at the warehouses. AMM's Midwest aluminum premium narrowed to 11.5 to 12 cents per pound from 11 to 12 cents previously. There were some reports of...
Global trading house Trafigura eyes US aluminum scrap market
Global trading house Trafigura AG/Nems (USA) Inc. is considering an entry into the U.S. secondary aluminum market, market sources said. To date, Trafigura’s only known involvement has been as a trader of the London Metal Exchange's North American special aluminum alloy contract (Nasaac), a...
US Military renewes contract with Charleston Aluminum for aluminum supply
A Calhoun County facility has seen its contract to provide aluminum to the US military renewed for another year. Gaston-based Charleston Aluminum company has received a one-year maximum, $49.4 million contract to provide heat-treated aluminum sheet and plate materials for the US Army, Navy, Air...
Sapa expects US aluminum extrusion demand to rise in 2013
US aluminum extrusion demand is expected to rise slightly this year, despite a slow start to the year, according to Jeff Henderson, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Sapa North America. The market has gotten off "to a slower start," he said, citing Aluminum Association data that...
Alcoa mulls Yadkin hydro assets sale
As Alcoa inches toward renewal of its embattled Yadkin River hydro license, the aluminum giant acknowledges the 38-mile project could be sold. Control of the Yadkin’s economic value has pitted Stanly County, site of a now-closed smelting operation, against Alcoa for more than six years. Alcoa now...
Aluminum steady in April shipments from US and Canada
North America’s aluminum exports through shipments increased during April, increasing their daily shipment rates. The information is based on the Metals Service Center Institute’s Monthly Activity Report, which is based on data supplied by participating metals service centers for both countries....
Tesoro receives FTA clearance for refinery and marketing business acquisitions
Tesoro Corporation announced that the Federal Trade Commission has cleared the Company's planned acquisition of BP's fully integrated Southern California Refining and Marketing business. Tesoro also said that itintends to close the acquisition during the second quarter, subject to customary closing...
Ormet's losses deepen in April; Wednesday court date looms
With its future likely to be decided Wednesday by a federal bankruptcy judge in Delaware, US aluminum producer Ormet told the court this week its losses continued to accelerate in April, increasing to $41.8 million for the first four months of 2013. April marked the third month in a row the...
APEL Extrusion moves to Coburg, Canada
APEL Extrusions, which is based in Calgary, Canada, plans to expand its West Coast operations by moving them to Coburg from Springfield in July 2014, President Mike Flynn said this week. To serve a growing number of West Coast customers, APEL plans in the next two years to add 25 to 30 people to...
Alcoa to cut energy consumption by half at new forged wheel plant
Alcoa announced that its $21 million Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products casthouse expansion at its Barberton, Ohio plant is expected to cut in half the total amount of energy used to recycle aluminum for forged wheels, reducing greenhouse gases and increasing the overall efficiency and...
Leading aluminum can maker and recycler Anheuser-Busch extends support to Tornado relief efforts in Oklahoma city
Anheuser-Busch is providing 51,744 cans of emergency drinking water for use by relief workers and residents affected by the tornado in Oklahoma City and its surrounding suburbs. Anheuser-Busch is working with the American Red Cross to get the water where it's most needed. Additionally, the company...
