Aluminium

Overview

• ▪ Aluminium is a chemical element in the boron group with symbol Al and is the most widely used non-ferrous metal. Ancient Greeks and Romans used aluminium salts as dyeing mordants and as astringents for dressing wounds. It is a silvery white, soft, ductile metal. It makes up about 8% by weight of the earth's solid surface and after oxygen and silicon, the third most abundant of all elements in the earth's crust. Because of its strong affinity to oxygen, it is not found in the elemental state but only in combined forms, such as oxides or silicates. The metal derives its name from alumen, the Latin name for alum.
• ▪ Aluminium is theoretically 100% recyclable without any loss of its natural qualities. According to the International Resource Panel's Metal Stocks in Society report, the global per capita stock of aluminium in use in society (that is in cars, buildings and electronics) is 80 kg. Much of this is in more developed countries (350 kg–500 kg per capita) rather than in less-developed countries (35 kg per capita). Knowing the per capita stocks and their approximate lifespans is important for planning recycling. By consumption, aluminium is next to steel.
• ▪ The realities of the market call for risk management techniques that are critical for users of aluiminium, such as producers, exporters, marketers, processors, and SMEs. When uncertainty looms large, modern techniques and strategies, including market-based risk management financial instruments like ‘Aluminium Futures’, offered on the MCX platform can improve efficiencies and consolidate competitiveness through price risk management. The importance of risk management thus cannot be overstated.

Factors Influencing the Market

• ▪ Prices ruling in the international markets
• ▪ Indian rupee and US dollar exchange rates
• ▪ Economic factors: industrial growth, global financial crisis, recession, and inflation
• ▪ Commodity-specific events: construction of new production facilities or processes, new uses or the discontinuance of historical uses, unexpected mine or plant closures (natural disaster, supply disruption, accident, strike, and so forth), and industry restructuring
• ▪ Government trade policies (implementation or suspension of taxes, penalties, and quotas)
• ▪ Geopolitical events

* Disclaimer: The users are also advised to refer to latest circular issued by the Exchange.