Aluminum
CRU: Aluminum news roundup
Written by Marziyeh Horeh
November 15, 2024
China ditches export tax rebates for aluminum semi-finished goods
China’s finance ministry said that it would reduce or cancel export tax rebates for a wide range of commodities and other products, effective Dec. 1. It announced it will cancel the rebate for various aluminum and copper products. The tariff code list also included various aluminum semis.
In addition, China will reduce the export tax rebate rates for some refined oil products, photovoltaics, batteries and certain non-metallic mineral products from 13% to 9%. This will aid government finances and encourage moves further downstream.
Constellium claims breakthrough in aluminum recycling
Paris-headquartered Constellium says together with partners they have made a major advance in sorting aluminum by implementing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technology at an industrial scale. The focus is on the automotive industry.
“Recycling aluminum scrap with the precision and scale offered by LIBS technology is an unprecedented leap forward for the industry,” said Dieter Hoell, vice-president global automotive at Constellium. “This innovative approach allows us to recover high-quality alloys from pre-consumer scrap, significantly reducing our carbon footprint and supporting our customers’ sustainability goals.”
One of the most significant challenges in automotive aluminum recycling is proper segregation – traditionally, mixed 5xxx and 6xxx alloys from stamping scrap were downcycled, limiting their use in high-value applications.
The latest technology allows for fast and precise sorting of aluminum scrap, achieving purity levels of over 95% for both alloy families. Constellium reports that it has already processed large quantities of LIBS-sorted scrap at its Neuf-Brisach plant in Alsace, eastern France, recycling it into top-quality aluminum products while maintaining material integrity.
The process was developed in collaboration with German recycler OSR and an unnamed European automotive manufacturer. Constellium and OSR plan to enhance the technology with the longer term goal of extracting high-value aluminum from end-of-life vehicles.
Norwegian aluminum producer Hydro already uses LIBS-based technology at its recycling plant in Dormagen (Germany) and in partnership with US recycler Padnos at Grandville, Michigan.
Editor’s note: This article was first published by CRU. To learn more about CRU’s services, click here.
Marziyeh Horeh
Read more from Marziyeh HorehLatest in Aluminum
Wittbecker on Aluminum: New Section 232 tariff is lever to pay for power
New duties could give companies like Alcoa and Century Aluminum revenue gains that could boost production
Wittbecker on Aluminum: Canada’s options to combat US tariffs
The problem is that the situation in Washington is so fluid that no one really knows what to expect
Trump officially orders sweeping 25% tariff on steel, aluminum
The new version of Section 232 goes into effect on 12:01 am ET on March 12, according to the executive order. The latest iteration of Section 232 removed quotas, exemptions, and other carve outs that had accumulated over years.
Wittbecker on Aluminum: Thoughts on Waste Management’s earnings
A look at US curbside operators concerns about new deposit legislation for used beverage cans.
Wittbecker on Aluminum: The impact of tariff uncertainty and UBC tightness
Hitting Canada with a 25% tariff could allow imported goods from other origins at proposed 10%-20% tariffs.