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NEW YORK (Commodity Online): The world’s biggest producer of aluminium-RUSAL, is expecting demand to slow down in 2012. The company expects global demand to grow by only 7% this year compared to a 10% growth last year.

“2012 is forecast to be a very challenging year for Europe”, the company said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange. With regard to Chinese demand, the company expects a 11% growth this year. However, “about 31 percent of China’s aluminum production capacity may be unprofitable now”, it added. RUSAL may also cut down its production by 6% within the next 18 months on the back of weak global demand.

LME aluminium prices have basically remained weak for the pat years, trading below $3000/tonne, on the back of a surplus production since 2005. A recent Barclays report suggested that this could come to an end in 2014 when the aluminium market is expected to experience a shortage. With manufacturers increasingly preferring aluminium over copper and producers cutting back on production, we might well see a shortage by 2014.

Emirates Aluminium (Emal) is the host sponsor of the World Aluminium Conference set to be held in Abu Dhabi from April 30 to May 2.

Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, president and CEO, Emal, said: “The region is now a serious player in the global aluminium market. With the world coming to Abu Dhabi, it is the perfect opportunity to showcase the advanced facilities we have which enable us to provide a reliable source of quality products to customers around the world.”

Al Mazrooei will deliver a key note speech at the event, a statement from Emal said.

The issues for discussion include strategic threats facing producers, the impact on demand of the economic climate, and downstream opportunities in the Middle East, the statement said.

Conference organisers, CRU, will also hold a number of workshops during the three day event, covering topics such as, cast house mix – maximising value in the cast house; value in using bauxite; and rolled products, going for value of volume.

Recently, the first meeting of Ninth General Assembly of China Special Steel Enterprise Association (Special Steel Association) was held in Friendship Hall at Baoshan Hotel. The meeting elected the new Special Steel Association leadership.

Honorary President of China Iron and Steel Industry Association, Wu Xichun was elected Honorary President of Special Steel Association. Party secretary of China Iron and Steel Industry Association, Liu Zhenjiang attended the meeting. Baosteel Co.,Ltd. deputy general manager and special Steel Department general manager Pang Yuanlin was elected the president of ninth assembly

Founded in 1986, the Special Steel Association is one of the 10 associations of China Steel Association. Special Steel Association leadership implements the co-president system. Since this year, the term of office is changed to five years.

Wu Xichun said that during the 12th Five-Year period, the steel industry would face greater opportunities for development. He hoped that members of special steel association would, under the news leadership, strengthen the market research and information exchange and strive for greater achievements.

The rapid growth of China stainless steel market goes with the everincreasing stainless steel consumption in China, which has been evidenced by yearly increment of 22.3% over the past 5 years.The total stainless steel capacity currently available in China in 8.75 million tons, the output of 400 series stainless steel and its percentage in stainless steel production has risen significantly. China has found a group of stainless steel makers,they are competitive both in production technology and equipment level. Chinese stainless steel makers will restructure for higher concentration.

Ess Dee Aluminium, one of the country’s leading aluminium foil producers, has appointed Mr Bijoy Kumar Pansari as the managing director of the company.

Mr Pansari, a stalwart in the industry, has worked as the Group President of Sterlite Industries from 1998 to 2007, where he was instrumental in formulation and implementation of Vedanta’s growth plans, policies, strategies and monitoring operational efficiencies across the group.

Commenting on the appointment, Sudip Dutta, chairman, Ess Dee Aluminium Limited said: “We are extremely upbeat to have Mr Pansari as our managing director. His experience and knowledge will prove invaluable to us and help in becoming a Rs 5,000 crore company in the coming four years.”

A qualified chartered accountant, Mr Pansari is an alumnus of Calcutta University from where he completed his bachelor’s degree in Law. He has more than four decades of experience at very senior levels of corporate hierarchy.

His previous association was with GATI Ltd. as a group advisor. Earlier he had been associated with Hindalco Industries as senior vice president (finance and commerce) and held senior positions at Uniworth Group and Birla VXL.

CSSC Released China Stainless Crude Steel Production for the First Quarter of 2012

The stainless steel production for first quarter of 2012 is 3.43 million metric tons (mmt), increased by 11.59% (357 thousand tons) compared to the same period of 2011.

Table 1 China Stainless Crude Steel Production (in ‘000 metric tons)

The market share of stainless grade categories has changed a lot, the share of CrNi steels (300 series) decreased by 6.38%, while the share of Cr-Mn steels (200 series) increased by 6.36%. The share of Cr steels(400 series) kept the same time with the same time of 2011.

Table 2 Market Share of Stainless Grade Categories in Q1 of 2012 (%)

In the first quarter of 2012, China imported 198.2 thousand metric tons (‘000 tons) stainless steel, decreased by 12.4% compared to the same period of 2011. The exported stainless steel is 451 thousand metric tons (‘000tons), decreased by 1.9%.

The apparent consumption for the first quarter is 2.77 million metric tons (mmt), increased by 12.06% .

Notes: Due to expansion of the statistical range, the numbers changed a lot compared with 2011.

At present, the production of tinplate in the international arena for the production of packaging containers, a special need. The original production of tinplate not take into account the special requirements of packaging container manufacturing, just ordinary tin, so the production of packaging supplies and more inappropriate. In the development and production of special packaging tin, Europe, walking in the forefront of the world. French Iron and Steel Group is Europe’s largest iron and steel enterprises, the quality and yield are not inferior to Japan, while the improvement of production techniques and varieties of Japan than. In recent years, the French steel company first developed special packaging tin, and put into the market, causing a revolution in the packaging industry.
Manufacture of containers for tin is the development direction of the steel industry. French companies in recent years the development of packaging tinplate has been put into use in Europe, and fashion trends. Product main types of the three cans of tinplate aerosol cans and cosmetics cans with tin, closed the cover and crown cover with tin, paint and chemical products, container, tin, two cans of tinplate, special purpose packaging tin.

At present, the use of the tinplate in China mostly uses the distinction between the manufacture of containers, often a quality instability and difficult problem. Special tinplate material affect the quality of the problem is solved. In fact, domestic containers, product quality issues, waste and defective largely related to the material. Special tin usage in Europe is indicative of this.

The particularity of the special packaging tin

Mr. Giraldo in special packaging tin research in France not long ago came to China, the status of the canning companies in China, he believes, packaging tinplate never be able to use the ordinary tin, otherwise, not only a waste of amazing, and difficult to obtain profits.

According to the different requirements of the packaging industry, tinplate thickness of the material, tinned amount, and mechanical properties have different needs. Currently in Europe, used to produce three tank material thickness of 0.13-0.2 mm, achieved the greatest success for France in the research and application of this material, not only saves steel, reduce costs, and in all aspects of the product requirements (such as mechanical strength, etc.) do not reduce.At present, the development of special packaging tin trends: (1) reduce the thickness of the material; (2) to improve the mechanical properties of materials. Packaging the tinplate most important indicator is the plastic deformation indicators of material and welding performance. In general, the T610 is used to make beverage cans, T6T67 used to make canned food cans, cans bottom and cover with special steel, and tank material 520 and 580, this material is easy to weld.

Japanese tin welding performance is less than ideal, the experts found that the Japanese tinplate in order to meet users prefer high surface brightness psychology, a lot of grinding in the material tinned. This is just an unscientific decorative products for the welding of the canning industry, it is highly unsatisfactory, the weld strength is low rejection rate. In fact, for the users, it is worth the candle.

In order to meet the different needs of packaging tinplate, France electrolysis coated with tin-plated, not only the coating is uniform, solid, and the pros and cons of the different thickness of the coating. In general, the Can with tinplate, tank tin coating than the tank, thicker tank for 2.8-11.2g/m22, and cans for 2.8-5.6g/m2. The thickness of the tin coating to exceed 15.6g/m2 (both sides) can not be welded, because the rejection rate. Therefore, the tin layer is thinner, the better welding effect. Tin price is too expensive, people prefer to paint on the surface.

Now, the French production of tin, tinned material amount of 80% for the 1 g/m2 2g/m2, 2.8g/m2, 5.6g/m2, only 20% tinned amount of material over 5.6g/m2 for special purpose.Depending on the tin coating amount, the material the same to be divided into three types: (1) 300 # tin amount of thinner. (2) 311 # tin general, used for the manufacture of cans products. (3) 312 # tin thick, there is a special purpose.

For example, the packaging the application of tinplate aerosol cans with 0.18-0.12 mm thick T61 tinplate manufacture cans; roof with a 0.30-0.35 mm thick tinplate mechanical properties of 752-T55; 0.30-0.31 mm tinplate bottom of the tank. T65 twice annealing. Currently used to manufacture food cans, can choose the thickness 0.14-0.17 mm tinplate, Europe has begun to use a thickness of 0.11-0.13 mm tinplate. Packaging light, and can reduce costs. Take food cans, in 1974, the European use of the tinplate of 0.24 mm thick T59 to 1994 are 0.14 mm thick DR580-620 tin, this is the direction of development.

China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association Recycling Metal Branch (CMRA) was established in May 16, 2002, as well as granted by the State Economic and Trade Commission of PRC and registered in Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC. It is the only industrial organization specialized in planning, coordinating and serving the secondary metal industry in China.

CMRA’s Responsibilitis

Abide by the state law and legislation; serve government, enterprises, industry and members; actively give full play to the role of organizing and coordinating; build and improve the industrial self-discipline system.

Give full play to the role of being a bridge and linkage between the government and enterprises, defend the legal right of its members, and serve for the government macroscopical management.

The aluminum industry on the Indian subcontinent is a highly concentrated sector with five prominent players catering to the majority of the country’s aluminum production. The country has been witnessing growing demand for aluminum in the domestic market accounting for an enviable growth in the sector.

The forecast for 2012 global production of aluminum is 42 million tonne to 45 million tonnes driven by rising Chinese output. Both market and non market forces have equally affected the aluminum industry for almost two decades. It is anticipated that the value of the global aluminum market in 2012 will reach USD 112.3 billion.

The per capita consumption of aluminum metal in India is less than 1 kilogram whereas it’s estimated to be 25 to 30 kilograms in the US and Europe, 15 kilograms in Japan, 10 kilograms in Taiwan and 3 kilograms in China.

Despite the lower per capita demand for the metal, there is heavy demand for aluminum in the domestic market on account of the metal being used in large quantities across a number of industries.

India has the credit of being the fifth largest producer of aluminum in the world. The country has a capacity to produce more than 2.7 million tonnes of aluminum per year, making up about 5% of total aluminum production around the globe. India boasts of massive bauxite reserves of about 3 billion tonnes. The country has been witnessing phenomenal growth in aluminum production over the past ten years.

In a nation wide recycling competition held by the US can industry for the second year, schools in America recycled over 4.5 millionaluminum beverage cans which is almost double the number of cans recycled last year. Over 790 schools from 50 states took part in the competition which takes place every year starting from November 15 (America Recycles Day) to April 22 (Earth Day).

The Can Manufacturers Institute, a national trade association of the metal can manufacturing industry and its suppliers in the US has announced the winners of the contest. Expedition Academy, based in Green River, Wyoming, was chosen as the national champion by achieving a recycling rate of 70.49 lbs.
Mr Robert Budway president of CMI said that the 2012 program was a great success and the students recycled over 65 tonnes of cans. Their work helped to protect the environment and also raised money for local charities and schools in the country.
Some students worked on collection projects that recycled a total of 131,183 lbs of aluminum cans. The aluminum collected is worth over USD 65,500 which can be donated to local charities or schools. Additionally, CMI granted USD 1,000 to the top recycling school in every state that satisfied all the requirements of the contest.
Every year, American consumers earn over USD 1 billion from recycling cans. In the US, approximately 67% of steel food cans and 58% of aluminum beverage cans are recycled annually. Budway remarked that cans are a highly recycled packaging product in the US. Analysis revealed that glass is recycled about 31%, PET containers by 29% and aseptic cartons by 6.5%.

CapitalVue reported that Aluminum Coil Corporation of China raised the ex factory price of alumina to CNY 2,900 per tonne an increase of 3.6% from several days ago.

According to the company, policy changes on Indonesian alumyte impacted on supplies of the metal and Chalco has now decided to carry out flexible production at its factories in Shandong, Henan and Zhongzhou and reduce capacity by 1.7 million tonnes.

The company’s 2011 Annual Report indicated that Chalco produced a total of 11.01 million tonnes of alumina and the current cut in capacity represents a 15% reduction in total capacity. Since May, Indonesia raised customs duties on exports of metals including alumyte resulting in higher procurement costs for Chinese enterprises.

Chalco incurred losses for 2 years in a row and Q1 losses rose from CNY 500 million in the Q1 of 2011 to CNY 1.1 billion.

Bloomberg reported that OAO Severstal, Russia second largest steel producer jumped to a one-month high as Moody’s Investors Service raised the company rating to one step below investment grade, citing profitability and “healthy” cash flow.

The stock surged 3% to RUB 386.20 by the close in Moscow, the highest price since May 3. Severstal USD 500 million of Eurobonds due 2016 extended gains, cutting the yield by 51 basis points or 0.51 percentage point to 6.593%. A close at this level is the lowest since May 11.

Mr Steven Oman Moody analysts said “Today rating action reflects continued improvement in Severstal operating performance and financial profile including solid profitability aided by a favourable cost profile and healthy cash flow generation.”

Tinplate originated in Bohemia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia).Since ancient times, the place of metal-rich, advanced technology, and know how to use water in the machine building, from the 14th century began to produce tinplate. Generally in a very long period of time, there has been a major producer of tinplate in the world. Was mainly used to manufacture tin plate and a drink.

The 17th century, Britain, France, Sweden, had hoped to build their own tinplate industry, but because of the need lot of money. It has not yet been developed. Until 1811, Brian. Tang gold and John. Hall opened tin of canned food, the only large-scale manufacture of tinplate developed. Today the world production of tin a year about 25 million tons, more than a third used to make tinplate, most of them for the canned food industry.

1810: World first by the British invention of tin cans, and patented. Can an expert to do the day was 60 cans.
1900: invention of electric welding.
1847: The United States invented the canning machine, instead of artificial.
1965: Start of aluminum easy open ends for use in canning.
1973: Start of iron used in the canning easy-open lid.
1990: Can technology upgrading to produce 1,000 cans per minute or more.

《 Ferritic Stainless Steels 》wrote by Prof. Kang Xifan was published in May. The press is Metallurgical Industry Press.

Ferritic stainless steel is the most important grade in stainless steel family, which is low in nickel or without nickel, the price is more stable than austenitic stainless steel. Ferritic stainless steel has many special characteristics. The book will introdue the metallurgy basic, act of the elements , heat treatment and the application.