The fact that RIO is closing Tiwai aluminium smelter in New Zealand and is almost certain to close the Isal aluminium smelter in Iceland this could help to improve aluminium prices due to slow down in supply in the short term.
RIO's smelters in Australia are also skating on thin ice.
Their power cost would be double the South African power cost.
Power cost is 30% of production costs so its difficult for smelters to compete against highly efficient smelters powered by very low cost fossil fuels or hydro in Malaysia and Canada. Middle East smelters use essentially free gas which is a by-product of their oil fields. The Chinese burn coal in high efficiency steam-driven electricity generators in the massive fleet of highly energy efficient smelters it has built over the past 15 years or so.
Australia still has a future as a miner of bauxite, but its on the edge when it comes to producing aluminium. Unfortunately I believe that South Africa is only marginally better. If the price of aluminium goes up you'll just see more production come on line where the power costs are in the bottom quartile.
South Africa power costs are in the mid to top quartile.
Australia, New Zealand and Iceland in the top quartile . Iceland due to greedy power suppliers and EU costs.
Most smelters in Europe are either closed on teetering on the edge.
Hillside and Mozal will possibly survive due to South Africa not wanting to lose an important industry and may come to the table with an acceptable power price agreement. Can only hope.
- Forums
- ASX - By Stock
- S32
- Ann: Quarterly Report June 2020
Ann: Quarterly Report June 2020, page-15
-
- There are more pages in this discussion • 25 more messages in this thread...
You’re viewing a single post only. To view the entire thread just sign in or Join Now (FREE)
Featured News
Add S32 (ASX) to my watchlist
(20min delay)
|
|||||
Last
$3.01 |
Change
0.020(0.67%) |
Mkt cap ! $13.63B |
Open | High | Low | Value | Volume |
$2.96 | $3.03 | $2.95 | $55.92M | 18.69M |
Buyers (Bids)
No. | Vol. | Price($) |
---|---|---|
2 | 21084 | $3.00 |
Sellers (Offers)
Price($) | Vol. | No. |
---|---|---|
$3.01 | 136031 | 3 |
View Market Depth
No. | Vol. | Price($) |
---|---|---|
2 | 21084 | 3.000 |
9 | 122793 | 2.990 |
5 | 211327 | 2.980 |
9 | 377109 | 2.970 |
19 | 163328 | 2.960 |
Price($) | Vol. | No. |
---|---|---|
3.010 | 136031 | 3 |
3.020 | 167868 | 6 |
3.030 | 174969 | 13 |
3.040 | 132825 | 5 |
3.050 | 42667 | 8 |
Last trade - 16.10pm 11/09/2024 (20 minute delay) ? |
Featured News
S32 (ASX) Chart |