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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Canada Stocks Fall to 1-Month Low as Alcoa Cuts Aluminum Outlook
Canadian stocks fell to the lowest level in almost five weeks after Alcoa Inc. cut its aluminum outlook on weakening demand in China, the world’s biggest commodities consumer. Niko Resources Ltd., an oil and gas explorer, slumped 8.5 percent. Enbridge Inc. (ENB) retreated 1 percent. AuRico Gold...
Senior Project Manager for Sapa's North American Technical Center Appointed
Officials at Sapa Extrusions North America announce that Alex Chen, Ph.D., has been appointed to senior project engineer of Sapa’s North American Technical Center. A specialist in thermal science and analysis, Chen brings extensive experience to Sapa’s technical expertise in the design and...
Alcoa Foundation to invest millions to boost recycling
The Alcoa Foundation, Alcoa's charitable branch, has announced plans to invest US$2 million in the Action to Accelerate Recycling (AAR) initiative in the USA. The objective is to improve domestic recycling rates and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 850 metric tons. The AAR is all about...
Alcoa Inc. 3rd Q earnings surpass analyst forecasts
Aluminium maker Alcoa Inc. kicked off the U.S. third quarter earnings season on Tuesday with earnings and revenues that were above analysts’ expectations. The company also said that aluminium demand would double from the current levels going to 2020. "We see the aluminium market as fundamentally...
Century Aluminum Rejects Smelter Proposal; Shares Slip 3%
Century Aluminum has rejected a proposal to help restart its West Virginia smelter after the electricity rate offer from the state fell short of its needs, SeekingAlpha reported. CENX shares are down 2.7% to $7.14 in afternoon trade, and are moving within a 52-week range of $5.52 - $12.30. The...
Aleris to Discontinue Use of NASAAC Index in Aluminum Pricing
Aleris today announced it will no longer supply multi-month pricing mechanisms that utilize the North American Special Aluminum Alloy Contract (NASAAC) Index as a basis for 2013 pricing. Aleris is opting to use other indices and mechanisms that provide a better and closer correlation to the cost of...
GPI Prototype adds aluminium option with new Direct Metal Laser Sintering machine
GPI Prototype, based in Lake Bluff, IL, USA, has announced that it has completed the installation of a third Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) machine supplied by EOS GmbH. The additional EOSINT M270 joins the EOSINT M270 & M280 machines currently being used at GPI to build metal parts. The...
Aerospace and automobile sector helped Alcoa to a quarterly profit
Stronger demand for aluminum products from airplane and automobile producers helped Alcoa Inc's third-quarter profit beat Wall Street's expectations despite weak aluminum prices and worries about China's slumping economy. But, even with its strong downstream business, Chairman and Chief Executive...
Intalco gets long-awaited 10-year power deal for Ferndale-area smelter
After many months of negotiations, Alcoa has announced a new 10-year electric power supply deal with the Bonneville Power Administration that should help maintain 625 jobs at the Alcoa Intalco Works smelter west of Ferndale. Before the new power deal is final, it must undergo a public comment...
Century Aluminum rejects West Virginia power proposal
Century Aluminum on Tuesday rejected a proposal meant to aid the restart of its West Virginia smelter. The California-based metals producer announced that the electricity rate offer from the state Public Service Commission falls short. The utility regulator proposed allowing a special electricity...
Study questions the credibility of power concession for Rio Tinto Alcan and Century smelters
A study by Wisconsin, USA-based Christensen Associates Energy Consulting questions the sense behind possible power concessions from Big Rivers Electric Corporation for Rio Tinto Alcan's and Century's Sebree and Hawesville aluminium smelters in the USA. According to the study, "A reasonable person...
Triton Boats announces extended aluminum production line
Fishing Holdings, LLC dba Triton Boats, a leading manufacturer of fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, announces that it will soon begin manufacturing two new series of aluminum boats. The newest line of X Series and Utility Series aluminum boats will be manufactured in a new state of the art...
ANOFOL Expands Operations to North America
ANOFOL a division of Steinert Elektromagnetbau GmbH, has announced its expansion to North America. ANOFOL US opened its North American headquarters in September, 2012 in Walton, KY. Located just outside of Cincinnati, ANOFOL US, a division of Steinert US, is positioned to provide high-quality...
US Aluminium Production Increases Sharply In July
A report from United States Geological Survey (USGS) has mentioned that US Aluminium production increased in the month of July. The total primary Aluminium production in US was 177000 tonnes in the month of July compared to 173000 tonnes in the month of June 2012. This marked a rise of 2.3% on a...
North American aluminum demand for January-July up 6.9%
Aluminum demand in the US and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 13.467 billion lb during the first seven months of 2012, according to preliminary estimates from the Aluminum Association. That is up 6.9% over the same period last year. Demand for...
Alcoa and U.S. Department of Energy commissions the modernization project at the Cheoah hydroelectric dam
Alcoa and U.S. Department of Energy officials yesterday commissioned the $110 million modernization project at Cheoah Dam in Robbinsville, NC, one of four hydroelectric dams that make up Alcoa Power Generating Inc.'s Tapoco Project. The modernization effort has increased the dam's efficiency and...
Kentucky Smelter to seek power on the open market
A western Kentucky aluminum smelter involved in a rate dispute with Big Rivers Electric Corp. says it plans to purchase power on the open market. State Rep. Tommy Thompson told the Messenger-Inquirer on Friday that Century Aluminum Co., which employs more than 700 workers in the region, had sent...
PSC seeking details on Century Aluminum counter-proposal
The state Public Service Commission on Monday asked for additional detail on its Consumer Advocate Division's counter-proposal in Century Aluminum's special power rate case. The head of the division said he hoped this was a sign the commission was giving thought to alternatives to the controversial...
