Nonferrous

• Noront ups Freewest offer in bidding war with Cliffs Nov 30, 2009

  The battle for Freewest Resources Canada Inc. is heating up as Noront Resources Ltd. raised its hostile takeover offer just a few days after Freewest approved a rival bid from Cleveland-based iron ore and coal miner Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

• Global Brass sets 6% increase Nov 30, 2009

  Global Brass & Copper Inc. (GBC), which sells metal products under the Olin Brass brand name, has announced a 6-percent price increase on all copper alloys effective with orders Jan. 4, 2010.

• Alcan hikes ingot, billet tags Nov 30, 2009

  Rio Tinto Alcan, Montreal, has raised its December aluminum remelt ingot price to 97 cents per pound and its billet price to $1.09 per pound.

• Emal eyes big US mart role in 5 years Nov 30, 2009

  Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Aluminium (Emal) expects to become a key supplier to the U.S. market within the next five years, an executive at the world’s largest single-site smelter told AMM.

• Rio Tinto Alcan hikes ingot, billet tags Nov 30, 2009

  Rio Tinto Alcan, Montreal, has raised its December aluminum remelt ingot price to 97 cents per pound and its billet price to $1.09 per pound. Both prices are up 3 cents from November. The increases reflect a tightening spot market across North America, where aluminum premiums are at a three-year high.

• Abu Dhabi's Emal sees big US market role in 5 years Nov 30, 2009

  Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Aluminium (Emal) expects to become a key supplier to the U.S. market within the next five years, an executive at the world’s largest single-site smelter told AMM.

• China rejects copper TC/RCs of $40/4 cents Nov 30, 2009

  Chinese smelters have suspended annual talks on copper treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) with overseas suppliers after being offered fees below production costs, sources said.

• Alcoa’s Kramer named to Aluminum Association board Nov 30, 2009

  Alcoa Inc.’s Kevin Kramer has been elected to the Aluminum Association’s board of directors. Kramer, president of growth initiatives at Alcoa, also will serve on the board’s executive committee, the Arlington, Va.-based association said Monday.

• Saft raises $180M for U.S. lithium-ion projects Nov 30, 2009

  Battery maker Saft Groupe SA has raised almost €120 million ($179.9 million) to help finance two lithium-ion projects in the United States.

• Exide eyes turnaround in tough auto battery mart Nov 30, 2009

  Higher lead prices, lackluster demand from automakers and changing consumer behavior are a recipe for a tough auto battery market, but Exide Technologies is quietly staging a steady turnaround.

• Exide eyes turnaround in tough auto battery mart Nov 30, 2009

  Higher lead prices, lackluster demand from automakers and changing consumer behavior are a recipe for a tough auto battery market, but Exide Technologies is quietly staging a steady turnaround.

• Alcoa’s Kramer named to Aluminum Association board Nov 30, 2009

  Kevin Kramer, president of growth initiatives at Alcoa Inc., has been elected to the Aluminum Association’s board of directors.

• First Quantum plans to build concentrator in Zambia Nov 25, 2009

  First Quantum Minerals Ltd. will build a concentrator at the Kalumbila copper deposit in northwest Zambia if its $260-million acquisition of Kiwara Plc, which owns the prospecting licence for the project, goes ahead.

• Brazil aluminum output off 9% in October Nov 25, 2009

  Brazil produced 128,900 tonnes of primary aluminum last month, a 9-percent drop from 141,600 tonnes in October last year and the lowest monthly tonnage thus far this year.

• N. American aluminum extruded, plate shipments down in Oct. Nov 25, 2009

  Aluminum product shipments fell in October compared with a year earlier, according to the Aluminum Association.

• Amcor/Alcan review extended Nov 25, 2009

  European Union competition regulators have extended until Dec. 14 the review period for Amcor Ltd.’s offer to acquire certain portions of the Alcan Packaging business after the two companies submitted proposed changes.

• EMC expanding portfolio with TTS buy Nov 25, 2009

  Specialty metals miner EMC Metals Corp. plans to buy The Technology Store Inc. (TTS) with the goal of improving recoveries in the extraction of tungsten, boron, lithium, scandium, titanium and nickel.

• Western Ti trial delayed; takes case to marketplace Nov 25, 2009

  The criminal trial of Western Titanium Inc. won’t start before 2010.

• EMC Metals expanding portfolio with TTS buy Nov 25, 2009

  Specialty metals miner EMC Metals Corp. plans to buy The Technology Store Inc. (TTS) with the goal of improving recoveries in the extraction of tungsten, boron, lithium, scandium, titanium and nickel.

• Amcor/Alcan review extended Nov 25, 2009

  European Union competition regulators have extended until Dec. 14 the review period for Amcor Ltd.’s offer to acquire certain portions of the Alcan Packaging business after the two companies submitted proposed changes.

• Western Titanium trial delayed; takes case to marketplace Nov 25, 2009

  The criminal trial of Western Titanium Inc. won’t start before 2010.

• High-carbon ferromanganese tags up Nov 24, 2009

  U.S. manganese prices have firmed slightly this week despite business slowing down for the holiday-shortened week, market participants told AMM.

• High-carbon ferromanganese prices inch higher Nov 24, 2009

  U.S. manganese prices have firmed slightly this week despite business slowing down for the holiday-shortened week, market participants told AMM.

• North American aluminum producers eye foreign sales Nov 24, 2009

  Skyrocketing physical aluminum premiums in Europe and Asia have prompted North American producers and traders to ship additional material overseas, according to market participants.