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Nexans has introduced a full range cable qualified for projects in places with extremely low temperatures such as the Arctic. The new product is called ICEFLEX and it features advanced flexibility, something that cables with conventional insulation fail to achieve. It is a halogen-free marine and offshore cable that remains flexible in temperatures of -50 C. Considering the growing number of oil and gas projects in the Artic, the new cable has good sales prospects.

LS Cable & Systems, the world's third largest manufacturer of wire and cable, reaffirmed on 23rd November that it is seeking to become the world's largest wire and cable manufacturer by 2020, and that it is targeting the value-added cable market in India as part of its strategy. The company, which according to chief executive officer Koo Cha-yol "has 33 manufacturing firms, 64 operational bases and four research centers in 26 countries," generates 60% of its sales abroad. LS Cables & Systems has been expanding these overseas sales through acquisitions, in recent years buying American cable maker Magnet Wire in 2008, and Chinese cable maker Hongchi in 2011, giving it access to the world's largest markets.

"One of the highlights at the booth will be the Cooled Charging Cable - the new technology which is an ideal fit for high-power charging stations. The Cooled Cable can multiply power-throughput of a charging cable and reduce charging times to below 20 minutes, making rapid charge times for all electric cars possible. This innovation puts super-fast charging within reach - even with big battery packs of new electric vehicles and trucks. The cables are thin, simple and easy to handle, bend-protected and have ideal grip position."

"By far, the replacement rate of copper with aluminum alloy and Aldrey alloy is up to 70% to 75%. In contrast, that of China is only 3% to 5%. In 2014, the aluminum alloy cable value is near RMB130 billion. In the global market, aluminum alloy cable is a common product for electric transmission line. With new energy gaining more popularity in China, the application of aluminum alloy will become wider and wider. In this report, ASKCI will further disclose market potential and commercial opportunities for aluminum alloy cable industry in China. Recommendations will be given at the end of the report to describe the prospect and provide suggestions for strategy making."

"Nexans supplies low voltage power cables, instrumentation and control cables and medium voltage power cables, essential for the operation of the cruise liners. Around 3,000 km of cables have been delivered for Anthem of the Seas and some 2,400 km will be supplied for Norwegian Escape."

It is believed that a cash crunch is reducing orders in the Chinese power sector, which accounts for 60% of the country's copper demand. Analysts predicted strong copper demand in H1 as the country was eager to repair the damages to power networks caused by the heavy snow in the early part of the year. However, repairs have so far mainly been made to aluminium and fibre-optic cables. Cash flow problems at copper rod and wire plants have occurred following the government's tight credit policy and high copper prices. Some 30% of copper wirerod production capacity is being reported idle. The cash shortages have also delayed copper buying from active copper fabricators, further dampening consumption of the metal. China, a net importer of copper, exported 31,000 tonnes of refined copper in April, up 227% year-on-year, with the possibility that the country might have been re-exporting the metal since late February. China's General Administration of Customs reported that 14,000 tonnes were exported to South Korea, six times that from the same period last year. This perhaps confirms that traders were re-exporting copper it has imported to LME-approved warehouses to take advantage of the discount between Shanghai and LME copper prices.

Neans focuses on "priority markets"

In the past few days world leading cablemaker Nexans has announced one acquisition, one new joint venture and one asset disposal. On the 30th May, Nexans acquired Intercond a leading Italian manufacturer of special cables for industrial equipment and subsea applications. The company had sales of €90m and employs 150. "This [€90m] acquisition fits totally in the Group's strategy by increasing the proportion of its business in high value-added special cables", said Gerard Hauser, Chairman and CEO of Nexans. On the 2nd June, Nexans released a press report confirming that it has formed a joint venture to create a wire and cable plant in Qatar, the country's first manufacturing facility. Qatar International Cable Company (QICC) is owned 29% by Nexans with the balance being owned by Special Projects Company and Al Neama Industrial Co. The new plant in the industrial city of Mesaleed, 40km from Doha, and will employ 210 people. By the end of 2009 it will begin manufacturing low and medium voltage cables for buildings and energy infrastructure as well as special cables for the oil and gas industry. This JV will generate sales of $150m per year by 2010 at current copper prices. Finally, Nexans confirmed that it has completed the pre-announced sale of its copper telecom cable plant at Santander in Spain to the British company B3 Cable Solutions for €17m. These three actions continue to refocus the group's strategy on priority market segments.

Nexans published its Q3 2009 sales figures and reported revenues of €1.27 billion (US$1.90 billion) compared to €1.69 billion (US$2.53 billion) in Q3 2008, a decline of 25%. At constant metal prices, sales in Q3 2009 amounted to €988 million (US$1.48 billion), which corresponds to a 19% organic decrease. For the nine months ending September 30 the company reported an organic fall in cable business sales of 17%, based on constant metal prices calculations. This compares with a 16% contraction experienced in H1 2009. Nexans said that lower building cable sales in Europe and Asia-Pacific as well as setbacks in the execution of high voltage contracts affected its sales figures. Energy cable revenues in Q3 were down by 13% y-o-y; those of telecom cables plunged by 19% y-o-y. In line with planned cutbacks in production capacity, electrical wire sales in Q3 were down by 35% y-o-y.

"The Kazakhstani project is designed to resolve power deficiencies caused by expansive urban and industrial development in Almaty, the capital city. LS Cable & System will provide products, such as 127km of 220kV level extra high-voltage transmission cables and joints, and technical consultation until August next year. In addition, 140km of OPGW (optical ground wire, see glossary) and 1,100km of 220kV level gap conductors (see glossary) will be supplied together with installation support by year end to San Lorenzo and Guarambare for national backbone power and communication network implementation in Paraguay. "

Nexans, the large French wire and cable maker, announced that it has won a EUR80M (USD104.5M) contract to supply and install a 100km long high voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cable in Newfoundland, Canada. The cable will form part of a new HVDC transmission link in Canada that stretches 1,100km. The submarine cable, which uses copper wire as its conductive core, will be manufactured in the company's NVC factory in Tokyo. The announcement is the second large submarine cable contract the company has won in the last 3 months, following the announcement that Nexans won the contract to supply and install a EUR300M (USD387.4M) submarine cable connecting Italy and Montenegro in late October 2012.

Nexans said it has been awarded contracts worth around €110 million ($113.2 million) by Libya's PEWCO (Public Electrical Works Company), to supply cables for projects to upgrade the country's power transmission and distribution infrastructure. The contracts involve the supply of over 1,000 km of high-voltage (HV) and low and medium-voltage (MV) cables. The transmission contract comprises 245 kV underground cables to be manufactured and supplied by Nexans, France and the 33 kV and 15 kV distribution cables and the optical fibre cables being supplied by Nexans Greece, with additional accessories being supplied by Nexans, Italy. Delivery and installation of the cable is expected to be complete by the end of 2013.

Figure 8.2.2.1 illustrates the lengths of subsea cable that may be required year by year. It is based on expected device spacings, farm layouts and likely distances from offshore substaons to shore. The final lengths required will depend on exact site layouts and separaon distances between devices as well as the method of connecon between devices, which could have dedicated connecons to the transformer or be chained together. The chart has the same profile as that of the number of devices installed, but offset as cables are purchased in advance of installaon. Export cables installed as part of a project's inial phase may be specified with sufficient capacity to accommodate later phases as well.

"SHANGHAI, Jun. 5 (SMM) -Speculation is running high that aluminum will replace copper in wire & cable now that China's new standards for aluminum alloy cable will take effect September 1. However, the new standards will do little in boosting aluminum applications in wire & cable, Shanghai Metals...... "

Nexans, the French cable maker, announced that its new cable plant in Qatar starts commercial production. Nexans's joint venture (JV), the Qatar International Cable Company (QICC) is located in Mesaieed Industrial City, which is 40 km from Doha. The new facility employs more than 100 staff, and it is expected that it will generate annual revenues of more than US$100 million by 2011. Nexans said that the plant will engage in the production of LV, MV and low-end HV power cables for energy infrastructure and building projects. It will also produce special cables for the oil and gas industry. Potential target markets include Qatar, the GCC and Yemen. The power cable plant occupies 19,000 sq.m. on an overall plot of 70,000 sq.m., close to a harbour that is reportedly developing as the largest in the Middle East. QICC was established in 2008, as a JV between Nexans (30%), Special Projects Company and Al Neama Industrial Co.