Despite the recent recovery in LME aluminum prices; demand for the stainless steel component remains in the dumps. Without any idea of when demand may stage a comeback, aluminum miners are bracing for more tough times.
A group of foreign shareholders is facing heavy losses after a Chinese aluminium company filed for provisional liquidation have hired high-profile financial advisers to represent them, raising the stakes in the battle for the company’s assets. For full story, click here
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.
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.
Friday, May 15, 2009