Week in Review: top newsmakers from the downstream aluminium sector

Foreign trade update, merger & acquisition, divestments and anti-dumping regulations have made news headlines in this week’s downstream aluminium sector. China with its cheaper aluminium export has continued to create tension in the U.S., Europe and India.  The country however has urged the U.S. to act wisely on imposing AD/CVD duties. Indian government is going through the final considerations regarding the imposition of anti-dumping duties. Novelis continues its expansion strategy into the automotive market. Here are a few trending headlines from the downstream aluminium sector from the week gone by:

India considers anti-dumping duty on aluminium foil import from China

Indian government is considering the possibility of imposing anti-dumping duty of up to USD 1.63 per kg on imports of aluminium foil in order to protect domestic manufacturers from cheap imports from China. Hindalco Industries, Raviraj Foils, and Jindal India have registered an application for initiating anti-dumping investigations.

China fears AD/CVD petitions may damage trade relations between China and the U.S

China has responded to the filing of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) petitions by the Aluminium Association’s Trade Enforcement Working Group against Chinese aluminium foil product exporters. On Friday, March 10, the country urged the United States to act wisely on the antidumping case, the first of this kind in 2017.  This is the first such action the Aluminum Association has taken in its history.  The association filed the petition to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Aluminium Developments Group acquires Corby based Aluminium Shapes

Aluminium Developments Group, an aluminium extrusion and component manufacturer, has acquired Aluminium Shapes from private equity firm Pemberton Capital. Aluminium Developments Group chief executive Joe Martoccia and Anglo European Group have taken a significant equity stake in the business.

Novelis partners with NIO to supply aluminium for its high-performance electric vehicles

Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, announced it has expanded its automotive supply capabilities by signing an agreement with next-generation car company, NIO, to provide innovative aluminum solutions for its fleet of smart, high-performance, premium electric vehicles. NIO will use Novelis Advanz aluminum alloys to create a wide range of structural components and parts for its aluminum-intensive NIO electric SUV models to be launched over the next five years.

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Strong performance in H2 2016 boosts European aluminium foil deliveries

As confirmed by a press release from European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), strong performance from European aluminium foil rollers in H2 2016 has lifted deliveries above pre-economic crisis levels for the first time in 10 years. Domestic deliveries recorded 1.5% increase from 2015 and exports performed better than expected, according to the latest statistics by EAFA.

Domestic orders for aluminium mill products and export drop in the U.S. and Canada

The Aluminium Association’s “Index of Net New Orders of Aluminum Mill Products” for February dropped 6.1 % MoM. Orders for flat roll products dropped 5.8 %, while orders for extruded products declined 7.7 % and orders for redraw rod were off 4.9 %. YoY, the orders record a slight drop. On average, orders by domestic producers for the first two months of 2017 were up 3.0 % YOY.