Indian Primary Aluminium Producers example essay topic
290 words
Aluminium is the most widely used metal after steel. Aluminium products are available in the form of rolled products (such as plates, sheets and foils), extrusions, forgings and castings. In India, the power sector accounts for over 35 per cent of total aluminium consumption, as compared with the global average of around 9 per cent. Other major end user segments of aluminium are automobile, packaging, consumer durables and construction. In India, the per capita consumption of aluminium is low due to higher prices of aluminium, as compared with the prices of substitutes such as steel, plastic and composites. Indian primary aluminium producers, such as Hind alco, In dal and N alco are among the least cost producers of primary aluminium in the world. The net profit margins of the industry are high, due to low cost of production and high protection in the form of high import duties. Since 1997-98, all primary producers have developed downstream capabilities to improve their margins and insulate themselves against the risk of price volatility. As a result, competition in the downstream segments has increased and the profitability of standalone producers has declined. Aluminium has multiple applications, due to characteristics, such as lightweight, strength, moderate melting point, ductility, conductivity and corrosion resistance.
Aluminium is produced from bauxite, which is the principal ore of aluminium. The basic stages involved in the production of aluminium are fofnBauxite mining fofnRefining of bauxite to alumina (the Bayer process) fofnSmelting of alumina to primary aluminium (the Hall-Hero ult process) fofnFabrication of metal into various forms for industrial uses. Aluminum products are available in the form of rolled products (such as plates, sheets and foils), extrusions, forgings and castings.
