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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US primary aluminum production gains 4.2% in 2012 to 2.07 million mt
US primary aluminum production totaled 2,070,316 mt in 2012, up 4.2% over the 2011 total of 1,986,447 mt, according to statistics from the Aluminum Association released late January 11. For the month of December 2012, the annual rate of production totaled 2,019,128 mt, down 3.5% from the December...
North American International Auto Show to highlight Aluminum Trend in automobile
Those looking for tangible proof of automakers’ trending shift from steel to aluminum can look no further than this week’s North American International Auto Show, beginning today in Detroit. Major and independent manufacturers are displaying 2013 model vehicles at this week’s show, many showing the...
Alcoa names Ken Giacobbe as CFO of Alcoa Engineered Products and Solutions
Alcoa AA, miner of bauxite, refiner of alumina and producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, on Friday named Ken Giacobbe as CFO of its Engineered Products and Solutions (EPS) business group with immediate effect. Giacobbe, in his new role, will have financial charge of the EPS business, which...
US aluminum premiums hit fresh record highs
A pickup in aluminum P1020 demand this week pushed Midwest spot premiums to fresh record highs, with most participants anticipating a further increase on the horizon. Midwest premiums rose to 11 to 12 cents per pound from 10.5 to 11.5 cents previously. People came in for spot that never buy spot,"...
70-ton aluminum furnace shipping out of Zeeland
Zeeland’s StrikoDynarad last week readied a 70-ton aluminum furnace for shipment. For some perspective, that’s 140,000 pounds — heavier than a U.S. Army M1 Abrams Tank and about the top weight of a North Atlantic right whale. StrikoDynarad specializes in devices that melt and handle molten...
Novelis opens New Global R & T Center in Kennesaw
Rolled aluminum and aluminum can recycling giant Novelis has a new Global Research & Technology Center whose design is intended to give customers a close look at the company's world-class R&D, engineering and manufacturing expertise, drive collaboration with customers, and showcase innovative use...
Norsk Hydro sticks to its outlook for primary aluminium demand
Norwegian aluminium maker Norsk Hydro maintained its outlook for primary aluminium demand this year, even as rival Alcoa released a bullish projection a day earlier, its top executive said on Wednesday. "We haven't changed our position for the future growth of aluminium," Chief Executive Richard...
Aleris restructures leadership of its global recycling business
Aleris has restructured the leadership of its global recycling business following the depature of executive vice president Alan Dick who was also chief executive officer of global recycling. Terrence J Hogan, senior vice president and general manager of recycling and specification alloys...
Mill-grade aluminum scrap price falls
Mill-grade aluminum scrap prices have logged some hefty declines while secondary aluminum scrap and alloy prices remain largely unchanged as strong demand and reports of tightening scrap flows lend support. Prices for 1-1-3 sows fell to a range of 78 to 80 cents per pound from 79 to 81 cents...
AloStar opens loan to Southeastern Aluminum Products Inc.
AloStar Business Credit opened a $5 million line of credit to Jacksonville, Fla.-based bath enclosures and shower door maker Southeastern Aluminum Products Inc. Atlanta-based AloStar also gave the company a $2.1 million real estate term loan. Southeastern Aluminum Products makes custom and stock...
US aluminum premium holds at 11 cents
The Platts US aluminum premium remained flat at 11 cents/lb plus London Metal Exchange cash, delivered Midwest, January 4, as most market participants were just coming back from the holiday break and finalizing their year-end inventory positions as well as planning for the coming year. Business in...
AMG consolidates its global aluminum operations into one centralized unit
AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. announces that it has completed the consolidation of its global aluminum operations into one centralized unit, AMG Aluminum, consisting of AMG Aluminum North America, LLC (formerly KB Alloys, LLC), AMG Aluminum UK Limited (formerly part of London & Scandinavian...
Alfiniti, Inc. installs new extrusion press at its facility in Winton, NC.
Alfiniti, Inc., a manufacturer of precision drawn tubing, announces the installation of a 2700mt extrusion press at its facility in Winton, NC. The press, complete with extrusion handling system and coilers, will produce extruded profiles, coiled tubing, and micro-channel extrusions for the...
SAF-West Adds Aluminum Extrusions Distribution and Anodizing Service
With the start-up of its batch anodizing line, SAF-West achieves functional parity with SAF's east coast capability. Their Redding, CA, plant operations now include distribution of aluminum extrusions & sheet, and metal fabrication in addition to the newly-added anodizing service. The anodizing...
Rumpke recycling facility awarded fund for rebuilding
US-based Rumpke Consolidated Companies Inc. has been awarded US$ 32 million in funds by the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority so it can establish a new recycling plant in Cincinnati. The 84 000-square-foot recycling plant will replace the Rumpke facility that was damaged in a fire in 2012. It...
November world aluminum stocks down 87,000 tons at 2.258m tons
Total world aluminum inventories in November fell by 87,000 metric tons from the previous month to 2.258 million tons, according to figures released Thursday by the International Aluminum Institute. World stocks in October stood at 2.345 million tons. November stocks were down 143,000 tons compared...
PSC's special rate mechanism for Ravenswood smelter expires Dec. 31, 2012
The bleak outlook for Century Aluminum's Ravenswood smelter started to shine a little in March when the West Virginia Legislature gave its blessings to a special electricity rate for high-intensity industrial consumers. The Jackson County plant closed in 2009, eliminating 650 jobs, and eventually...
PSC gets it right on special rate for Century aluminum plant
Credit is due the West Virginia Public Service Commission for seeing through the smokescreens thrown up by Century Aluminum in the company's quest to obtain a special electricity rate. Century closed its Ravenswood smelter in 2009 after aluminum prices slumped, putting 650 people out of work. The...
