Aluminum prices reported to have eased on Wednesday as Alcoa’s earnings sent negative vibrations through markets. Michael Widmer an analyst at BNP Paribas stated: Alcoa is probably one factor. If you are posting a second quarterly loss in a row, it’s not too good. For full story, click here
In the past few weeks, the global marketplace has been met with some much welcomed positive news. However, on the back of a massive slide in commodities prices, aluminum companies are still struggling with record low prices and seemingly nonexistent demand.
Century Aluminum Company reported first quarter 2009 earnings after the close of market trading. For full story, click here
Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA declared that it has deepened its production cuts by a further 100,000 metric tons of annual capacity at its Sunndal smelter, amid demanding market conditions. For full story, click here
Aluminum’s fundamentals remain dire, despite the upswing in Chinese Imports. Imports in the country are rising due to an arbitrage opportunity as Shanghai Futures Exchange aluminum is selling at a premium of $400-$500 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange.
Aluminum prices are near five-year lows as orders drop from automakers, builders and appliance manufacturers. The global recession, collapsing consumer and corporate confidence and plunging demand for industrial metals have combined to drop the aluminum prices on the LME to their lowest monthly rate since April 2003.
Aluminum industry executives sent a warning to other market leaders that unless large aluminum producers make deeper output cuts, the entire industry will likely take many years to recover from the current slump. Just 10% of world aluminum output is slated to be taken offline, and unless this number is pushed higher by more output cuts long-lasting damage to the sector is possible.
The price of aluminum has slumped some 50 percent since peaking at $3,380 per tonne last July as the global economic downturn has hit demand for the metal. To kick off 2009, the aluminum market received some positive news as the metal climbed to a three-week high in Shanghai trading.
World aluminum prices recorded a marginal gain on Monday on the back of news that the incoming US administration will be unveiling a major stimulus package. US President-Elect Barrack Obama announced plans for the biggest infrastructure investment since the creation of an interstate highway in the 1950’s.
If there was anyone who had reason to celebrate the failed BHP takeover of Rio Tinto, it would be China, and more specifically Chinese smelters. Last February, Aluminum Corp. of China together with Alcoa, paid $14.1billion for a 12% stake in Rio-Tinto’s London listed shares. Conspiracy theorists said the move was engineered by Beijing.
Get our independent commentary on aluminum trends and companies delivered to your inbox.
