Weekly Highlights Review of the Aluminum Industry (4.06-4.10)

  【Industry Focus】
  China's aluminum fluoride production increased by 217% month on month in March
  In March, China's aluminum fluoride production was approximately 58000 tons, an increase of 217% month on month and 41.36% year-on-year. The total production of aluminum fluoride in China from January to March was approximately 109000 tons, a decrease of 15.31% compared to the same period last year. In March, the production of aluminum fluoride in Henan region was about 12000 tons, an increase of 422% compared to the previous month; The production of aluminum fluoride in Hunan region is about 11000 tons, an increase of 175% compared to the previous month; The production in Shandong region is about 8500 tons, an increase of 158% month on month; The production in Gansu region is about 8500 tons, an increase of 750% month on month; The production in other regions is about 18000 tons, an increase of 135% compared to the previous month.
  Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Visits Nonferrous Metals Association to Promote the Establishment of Intelligent Manufacturing Alliance
  On March 31st, Chang Guowu, Deputy Director of the Raw Materials Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and a delegation visited the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association to have discussions with Ge Honglin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, on promoting the intelligent transformation and upgrading of the non-ferrous metals industry and establishing the China Nonferrous Metals Intelligent Manufacturing Alliance. Chang Guowu pointed out that intelligent manufacturing is a complex system engineering, and the alliance should adhere to open cooperation and cross-border integration, integrate intelligent manufacturing resources within and outside the industry, introduce advanced experience from other industries, and prioritize the implementation of guidelines to form a professional team. Efforts should be made to promote the application of achievements, formulate industry standards, promote pilot demonstrations, and support industry management, and pragmatically promote the various work of the alliance.
  A new round of industrial planning to support the consumption of new energy vehicles is about to be released
  According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the "New Energy Vehicle Industry Development Plan (2021-2035)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan") will be released and implemented as soon as possible to guide China's new energy vehicle industry to smoothly overcome the critical period of "climbing the slope and crossing the obstacle". The solicitation draft of the "Plan" requires that by 2025, the competitiveness of the new energy vehicle market will significantly improve, and key technologies such as power batteries, drive motors, and on-board operating systems will make significant breakthroughs. The proportion of new energy vehicle sales will reach about 25%, and the proportion of intelligent connected vehicle sales will reach 30%. Highly autonomous intelligent connected vehicles will achieve commercial applications in limited areas and specific scenarios.
  Guangdong Province Issued the 2020 Work Plan to Promote the Exit of Backward Production Capacity

  Guangdong Province has issued a 2020 work plan to promote the withdrawal of outdated production capacity, with a focus on industries such as steel, cement, electrolytic aluminum, and flat glass. By improving the comprehensive standard system, strictly enforcing and enforcing mandatory standards, implementing departmental linkage and local responsibilities, deepening the promotion of market-oriented, legal, and normalized work mechanisms, and promoting a number of energy consumption, environmental protection, safety If the technology fails to meet the standards and production of substandard products or eliminated production capacity, it shall be shut down and withdrawn in accordance with the law and regulations. Before the end of April, the industrial and information technology, and energy regulatory departments of cities at or above the local level will take the lead in collaboration with relevant departments, focusing on the steel, cement, electrolytic aluminum, and flat glass industries, to study and formulate local work plans, clarify annual key tasks, time nodes, work measures, and responsible departments, and implement them with the consent of the local people's government. A copy of the plan will be sent to the provincial industry

  【Enterprise Dynamics】
  Two national standards for aluminum alloys led by China Aluminum Group have been approved and released
  According to the National Standard Announcement No. 4 of 2020 released on March 31, two national standards, "Chemical Composition of Deformed Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys" led by Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Aluminum Group, and "Marine Aluminum Alloy Plate" led by Southwest Aluminum Industry (Group) Co., Ltd., have been officially approved and released by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Standards Committee, and will be officially implemented from February 1, 2021.
  MCC Baosteel and Baowu Aluminum signed a strategic cooperation agreement
  Recently, representatives from China Metallurgical Baosteel and Baowu Aluminum Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Baowu Aluminum) gathered in Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, which is known as the "Swan City". The two sides successfully signed strategic cooperation agreements on production cooperation, plant maintenance, aluminum slag treatment BOO, and process vehicle BOO.
   Liuzhou Yinhai Aluminum Successfully Completed 4-Series Aluminum Alloy Wide Ingot Casting
  On April 2nd, Liuzhou Yinhai Aluminum successfully completed the casting trial production of 4XXX zinc alloy 620 * 2520 wide ingot. It is reported that Liuzhou Yinhai Aluminum Melting and Casting Plant has been mainly producing 3/5 series alloys since its production, and has never produced 4 series alloys before. The main alloying element in the 4 series alloy is silicon, which is completely different from the alloy elements previously produced in the 3 and 5 series. The alloy properties also have significant differences. At the same time, the 620 * 2520 specification is produced by melting and casting.
  Two industry standards of Zhongfu Industry have been officially released
   The two aluminum processing industry standards, T/HNNMIA9-2020 "Aluminum Alloy Strip for Can Bodies" and T/HNNMIA10-2020 "Aluminum Alloy Plate and Strip for Can Lids and Pull Rings", drafted by Zhongfu Industry, were approved and announced by Henan Nonferrous Metals Industry Association on April 3, 2020, and will be implemented from May 1, 2020.
  Two Henan Provincial Engineering Technology Research Centers Settled in China Aluminum Zhengzhou Research Institute
  Recently, according to the Notice on Agreeing Zhengzhou Coal Machinery Comprehensive Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. and Other Units to Build Henan Engineering Technology Research Center issued by the Henan Provincial Department of Science and Technology (Yukeji [2020] No. 4), Both the "Henan Aluminum Dressing and Metallurgy Process Resource Comprehensive Utilization Engineering Technology Research Center" and the "Henan Advanced Structural Ceramic Engineering Technology Research Center" projects of China Aluminum Zhengzhou Research Institute have been approved by Henan Engineering Technology Research Center.

  【Global Vision】

  Aleris postponed the closure of the Lewis port factory until April 19th
  According to the compilation by World Aluminum Network, Aleris Aluminum has extended the temporary shutdown of its Lewis port factory by another week to April 19, with April 20 as the planned resumption date. The factory has previously announced a suspension of production from March 25th to April 13th. This decision is mainly based on the announcement of short-term production stoppages by automotive customers combined with market uncertainty. It is expected that this extension of shutdown time will affect the majority of employees in the factory and the majority of automotive employees at the company's stations in other states.
  "COVID-19" impacts Rio Tinto to consider suspending production of Icelandic aluminum smelter
  According to World Aluminum Network, Rio Tinto is considering suspending production at its Straumsv í k aluminum smelter in Iceland for a period of two years. The Rio Tinto Icelandic aluminum smelter is located in the southwest of Iceland and has been operating at a loss for 8 years. In 2019 alone, its losses reached 13 billion Icelandic kroner, especially as the high cost of electricity has made businesses unbearable.
  Okunik has officially split into two independent companies and started independent listing and operation!
  On April 1st, Arconic Inc. was officially split into two independent companies - Howmet Aerospace Inc. and Arconic Corporation, and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock codes "ARNC" and "HWM".