ALUMINUM—2002 5.1

1

A reference that includes a section mark (§) is found in the Internet 

Reference Cited section.

ALUMINUM

By Patricia A. Plunkert

Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Lauri Watson, statistical assistant, and the world production table was 

prepared by Linder Roberts, international data coordinator.

In 2002, 7 domestic companies operated 16 primary aluminum 

reduction plants in 13 States and produced more than 2.7 million 

metric tons (Mt) of metal. Smelters east of the Mississippi River 

accounted for 75% of the production. The value of production 

was estimated to be $3.9 billion. Three additional companies 

had plants that were idle during the year. The 10 domestic 

producers had a total of 7 smelters that were either temporarily or 

permanently idled in 2002. At yearend, about 1.5 million metric 

tons per year (Mt/yr) of domestic primary aluminum smelting 

capacity, equivalent to 35% of total capacity, was closed.

Aluminum recovered from purchased scrap decreased 

slightly to 2.93 Mt. Of this recovered metal, 60% came from 

new (manufacturing) scrap, and 40% came from old (discarded 

aluminum products) scrap. Aluminum used beverage cans 

(UBCs) accounted for more than one-half of the reported old scrap 

consumption in 2002. According to the Aluminum Association Inc. 

(2003a), the recycling rate for aluminum UBCs was 53.4%.

The transportation and the container and packaging industries 

remained the largest markets for aluminum products in Canada 

and the United States in 2002. The transportation industry 

accounted for 35% of consumption; containers and packaging, 

23%; building and construction, 16%; consumer durables, 8%; 

electrical, 7%; and other uses, 11%.

U.S. imports for consumption increased in 2002 compared 

with those of 2001. Canada remained the largest shipper of 

aluminum materials to the United States, followed by Russia. 

Total exports from the United States in 2002 were at the same 

level as those in 2001.

The price of primary ingot on the domestic and the 

international markets fluctuated during the year. The 2002 

annual average domestic price decreased by almost 4 cents per 

pound compared with that of the previous year.

At the end of 2002, world inventories of aluminum, as 

reported by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), 

decreased compared with those of 2001. Inventories of primary 

metal held by the London Metal Exchange Ltd. (LME), 

however, increased.

Primary aluminum was produced in 43 countries in 2002. 

China and Russia surpassed the United States as the world’s 

largest producers. China produced 17% of the world total, 

followed by Russia with 13%. The United States and Canada 

each accounted for about 10% of the total world production. 

World primary metal production increased by 7% compared 

with that of 2001.

Production

Primary.—Domestic primary aluminum production, which 

totaled a reported 2,706,582 metric tons (t), increased by 3% 

compared with that of 2001. Production data were obtained 

from the 11 domestic producers, all of which responded to the 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) request for production data.

Despite the slight increase in production, most of the domestic 

primary smelting capacity that had been closed during the 

previous few years remained closed. At yearend, about 1.5 Mt/

yr of U.S. primary aluminum smelting capacity was closed. Of 

this total, 270,000 metric tons per year (t/yr) was permanently 

closed and the remainder was classified as temporarily idled. 

The bulk of the idled capacity was in the Pacific Northwest. 

Most of the smelters outside this region continued to operate at 

or near their engineered capacities.

In July, Alcoa Inc. announced a series of primary aluminum 

smelter closures. Alcoa announced the temporary closure 

of its 120,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter in Badin, NC, 

which had been operating at 90,000 t/yr since September 2000. 

Metal production at the smelter ceased in mid-August. Alcoa 

also announced the permanent closure of its 121,000-t/yr 

Troutdale, OR, facility and a 76,000-t/yr potline at its 320,000-

t/yr Rockdale, TX, smelter. Both the Troutdale smelter and 

the potline at Rockdale, which had been idled previously, were 

dismantled (Alcoa Inc., 2002g).

Alcoa announced that the company would delay indefinitely 

the planned restart of Line 1 at its 310,000-t/yr Warrick County, 

IN, primary aluminum smelter. That line has a capacity of 

41,000 t/yr. The smelter had been gradually restarting capacity 

since a power outage interrupted production in December 2001 

(Alcoa Inc., 2002b).

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. agreed to sell the 

property, plant, and equipment at its Tacoma, WA, primary 

aluminum smelter to the Port of Tacoma. The plant is adjacent 

to the Blair Waterway, which the Port is redeveloping for use as 

a container terminal. Under the agreement, the Port of Tacoma 

would assume responsibility for any necessary demolition 

and environmental remediation at the site. Production at the 

73,000-t/yr facility had been curtailed since mid-2000 (Kaiser 

Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2002c).

Glencore International AG purchased Vanalco Inc.’s bankrupt, 

Vancouver, WA, primary aluminum smelter for $24 million. 

The 116,000-t/yr smelter had been idled since August 2000 

(Mining Journal, 2002c).

In May, Alcoa began the gradual restart of two potlines (95,000 

t/yr) at its Intalco smelter in Ferndale, WA. The 278,000-t/yr 

smelter had been closed since May 2001 (Alcoa Inc., 2002b).

By June, Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. had reopened three 

of the five potlines at its 168,000-t/yr smelter in Columbia Falls, 

MT. The smelter had been closed since January 2001 (Reese, 

2002§1).
5.2 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2002

In September, Golden Aluminum Co. announced the restart 

of one potline at its 168,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter in 

Goldendale, WA. The restart increased operating capacity to 

50,000 t/yr from 12,000 t/yr (Platts Metals Week, 2002e).

Kaiser filed voluntary petitions for bankruptcy reorganization 

under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. 

Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Although 

the filing included certain U.S. subsidiaries through which 

the company held an interest in foreign operations, it did not 

include Kaiser’s interest in the following offshore facilities: 

alumina refineries in Jamaica and Australia; the Jamaica Bauxite 

Company; smelters in Ghana and Wales; and an extrusion plant in 

Ontario, Canada (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2002a).

Noranda Inc. and members of the United Steelworkers of 

America (USWA) at its 250,000-t/yr New Madrid, MO, smelter 

signed a new 5-year labor agreement. The new contract, 

which took effect on September 1, allowed for wage increases 

each year during the course of the contract, improved pension 

benefits, and instituted some changes in health care benefits 

(Noranda Inc., 2002).

Century Aluminum Co. and members of the USWA ratified 

a 3-year extension to a labor agreement that was set to expire 

on May 31, 2003. The new agreement, which runs through 

May 31, 2006, covered workers at Century’s Ravenswood, WV, 

primary aluminum smelter. Terms of the agreement were not 

disclosed (Century Aluminum Co., 2002).

Alcan Inc. announced plans to close one of two cold mills 

at its Fairmont, WV, plant. The plant produced light gauge 

aluminum sheet and foil used in the transportation, packaging, 

and industrial markets. Alcan anticipated that the mill would be 

closed in 2003 (Alcan Inc., 2002b).

Kaiser announced the sale of the coating line at its Trentwood, 

WA, rolling mill to Alcoa (American Metal Market, 2002d). 

With the sale, Kaiser ceased production of aluminum lid and tab 

stock for the beverage can industry. In 2000, Kaiser exited the 

can body stock market at Trentwood. Kaiser anticipated that 

the Trentwood mill would continue to concentrate on its heattreat business for the aerospace and general engineering markets 

(Guerriere, 2002b).

Pechiney purchased the equipment of McCook Metals L.L.C. 

(Pechiney, 2002c). McCook filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 

protection in August 2001. At yearend, the plate manufacturing 

and rolling equipment of the Chicago plant was still being held 

in a warehouse (Brooks, 2002).

Norsk Hydro ASA announced the closure of its Moultrie, GA, 

aluminum extrusion plant. The plant had 2 extrusion presses 

and employed 121 workers (Guerriere, 2002a).

Strategic Minerals Corp. (Stratcor), Danbury, CT, closed the 

aluminum-vanadium master alloy line at the Niagara Falls, 

NY, plant operated by its subsidiary, U.S. Vanadium Corp. 

Production will shift to a new facility being built in New 

Castle, PA, by Stratcor’s partner, International Specialty Alloys 

(American Metal Market, 2002j).

Secondary.—Metal recovered from new and old scrap 

decreased slightly to 2.93 Mt in 2002 (table 3), according to 

data derived by the USGS from its “Aluminum Scrap” survey. 

Of the 69 companies and/or plants to which monthly or annual 

survey requests were sent, 39 responded; they represented 92% 

of the total scrap consumed, as listed in table 4.

According to figures released by the Aluminum Association 

Inc., the Can Manufacturers Institute, and the Institute of 

Scrap Recycling Industries, 53.8 billion aluminum UBCs 

were recycled in the United States in 2002, for a beverage can 

recycling rate of 53.4%. For 21 of the past 22 years, the rate has 

exceeded 50% (Aluminum Association Inc., 2003a).

TST Inc. announced the opening of a secondary smelter 

in Sweetwater, TX. The smelter was expected to produce 

aluminum die cast alloys 380, 319, and 356 (Schaffer, 2002b).

Superior Aluminum Alloys announced plans to add a fourth 

furnace at its secondary aluminum smelter in New Haven, IN. 

The 2,270-metric-ton-per-month (t/mo) (5-million-pound-permonth) furnace would increase capacity at the plant to about 

90,700 t/yr (200 million pounds per year). Under normal 

operating conditions, the smelter planned to operate three 

furnaces at capacity and use the fourth furnace as a backup 

(Platts Metals Week, 2002j).

Production at the new Norsk Hydro remelt facility in 

Commerce, TX, began on November 15. The plant will have 

the capacity to produce 90,000 t/yr of aluminum from scrap. 

Norsk Hydro has a total U.S. remelt capacity of more than 

400,000 t/yr with additional plants in Henderson, KY; Monet, 

MO; Ellenville, NY; Phoenix, AZ; and St. Augustine, FL (Norsk 

Hydro ASA, 2002b).

Allied Metal Co. purchased the assets of Ares Corp., a closed 

secondary aluminum smelter in Scottsboro, AL. The plant, 

which had been shuttered for 18 months, contained a 91-t 

(200,000-pound) reverberatory furnace. No decision had been 

made by yearend on the types of alloys to be produced by the 

new company, Allied Scottsboro LLC (Schaffer, 2002a).

In support of its announced strategy to shift production to 

locations that would provide improved service for its major 

customers, Wabash Alloys LLC reported the closure of two of 

its secondary aluminum smelters and the purchase of another. 

In June, Wabash closed its Syracuse, NY, smelter. The former 

Roth Brothers facility had been capable of producing 6,350 

t/mo (14 million pounds per month) of specification alloy ingot 

(Platts Metals Week, 2002k). In November, Wabash announced 

plans to close its Benton, AR, smelter by yearend. The plant 

had a reported capacity of 3,630 t/mo (8 million pounds per 

month) of alloy production. Since 2000, Wabash has also closed 

facilities in Marietta, PA; Checotah, OK; Russellville, AL; 

Bellwood, VA; and Milwaukee, WI. Wabash has eight operating 

facilities located in Cleveland, OH; Wabash, IN; Tipton, IN; 

Dickson, TN; Steele, AL; Montclova, Mexico; and Mississauga 

and Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Platts Metals Week, 2002l). 

Wabash purchased the Steele, AL, facility in September of this 

year. The former Culp Aluminum Alloys facility had a reported 

production capacity of 54,400 t/yr (120 million pounds per year) 

of aluminum alloy (Schaffer, 2002c).

Zemex Corp., the Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based owner of 

dross processor Alumitech, announced the purchase of Resource 

Recovery Industries Inc. The Friendly, WV, facility used tilting 

rotary furnaces to convert dross, residues, and other forms of 

aluminum scrap into sows. The facility also included a cold 

processing line that converted mixed residues, such as black 

dross and saltcake, into concentrates of 85% to 90% metal 

content (Schaffer, 2002d).
ALUMINUM—2002 5.3

Consumption

The end-use shipment data reported by the Aluminum 

Association have been revised to include aluminum product 

shipments in both the United States and Canada. In 2002, the 

combined United States and Canadian shipments of aluminum 

products to the transportation industry totaled 3.4 Mt (table 

6). Shipments to the container and packaging industry, which 

was the second largest end-use market, was 2.26 Mt. Total 

shipments, excluding exports, of aluminum products in 2002 

increased about 3% compared with those of 2001.

The weight of the average North American-built family motor 

vehicle increased by 14 kilograms (kg) (30 pounds) to 1,515 

kg (3,340 pounds) in 2002 compared with 1,501 kg (3,310 

pounds) in 2001. To hold the weight increases of many new 

models to a minimum, automakers increased the use of lighterweight grades and forms of steel, a variety of aluminum alloys, 

powder metals, and magnesium die-casting alloys in the bodies, 

structural components, powertrains, suspension systems, and 

other subassemblies. The average aluminum content of the 

2002 family vehicle was 122 kg (268 pounds) compared with 

116 kg (255 pounds) in 2001 (Wrigley, 2002). 

According to a recent study by Ducker Research Co., the 

average aluminum content of automobiles was expected to 

grow to 130 kg (287 pounds) per vehicle across the three major 

automotive markets of the world by 2010. This included a 

North American average aluminum content of 144 kg (318 

pounds) per vehicle by 2010, a European average of 122 kg 

(268 pounds) per vehicle, and a Japanese average of 119 kg 

(263 pounds) per vehicle. Castings have dominated aluminum 

automotive applications throughout the industry’s history, 

representing nearly 80% of all shipments in the three major 

world markets. However, during the balance of this decade, 

other product forms are expected to increase their share, 

particularly aluminum sheet (Light Metal Age, 2002).

Jaguar Cars Ltd.’s all new XJ sedan, unveiled at the 2002 

Paris Auto Show, reportedly is the first volume production 

vehicle with an aluminum unibody structure. Alcan’s 

Aluminum Vehicle Technology was used to design a stamped 

sheet structure that is about 40% lighter than an equivalent steel 

body. All of the car’s “hang-on” body parts—hoods, doors, 

fenders, and trunk lids—are also produced of aluminum, further 

contributing to weight reduction and improved performance 

(Alcan Inc., 2002k).

Norsk Hydro announced the development of an all-aluminum 

engine block for a new high performance diesel engine. 

Blocks for high performance diesel engines must sustain high 

temperatures and up to three times the pressure of traditional 

gasoline engines. Norsk Hydro also approved a major 

investment for a new production line for aluminum blocks at 

Dillingen, Germany. Upon completion, the new facility would 

be capable of producing 350,000 engine blocks per year (Norsk 

Hydro ASA, 2002d).

Harley Davidson Inc.’s 2003 VRSCA V-Rod is reportedly the 

first motorcycle produced by a major U.S. manufacturer using 

aluminum body panels. The 100th Anniversary V-Rod uses 

anodized aluminum in the cycle’s body panels, front and rear 

fenders, chain guard, louvered front side covers, radiator shroud, 

airbox cover, and swing arm (Journal of Metals, 2002).

Alcoa received antitrust clearance from the European Union 

to complete the acquisition of Fairchild Fasteners from The 

Fairchild Corporation. Fairchild Fasteners was a leading 

producer of precision fastening systems and components used 

in the construction and maintenance of commercial and military 

aircraft (Alcoa Inc., 2002f).

Ball Corporation completed its acquisition of SchmalbachLubeca AG, Europe’s second largest manufacturer of beverage cans. 

Schmalbach operated 12 beverage can and can-end manufacturing 

facilities: four each in Germany and the United Kingdom, two in 

France, and one each in the Netherlands and Poland. The facilities, 

which will be operated under the name Ball Packaging Europe, 

reportedly had a combined capacity to produce more than 12 billion 

cans and ends per year (Platts Metals Week, 2002b).

Alcoa introduced a new nonstick aluminum foil, Reynolds 

Wrap Release. The foil, which is coated with a special 

proprietary food-safe, nonstick surface, can be used both as a 

cooking/baking item as well as a wrap for storage. Reynolds 

Wrap Release will compete in the $1.7 billion U.S. food wrap 

and bag industry (Alcoa Inc., 2002h).

Stocks

Domestic inventories of aluminum ingot, mill products, 

and scrap held by U.S. producers increased to 1.32 Mt at 

yearend 2002 from 1.30 Mt at yearend 2001 (Aluminum 

Association Inc., 2003b). The LME, however, reported that 

primary aluminum metal ingot at its U.S. warehouses decreased 

dramatically to 650 t at yearend 2002 from 28,500 t at yearend 

2001 and that its U.S. warehouses still did not hold any stocks 

of aluminum alloy ingot (London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2002).

On March 4, the LME launched a new aluminum alloy 

contract, the North American Special Aluminium Alloy Contract 

(NASAAC). It is a modified version of the LME alloy contract 

with a tighter A380.1 specification (Pinkham, 2002). Delivery 

points were limited to four U.S. warehouses—Baltimore, MD; 

Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; and St. Louis, MO (Platts Metals 

Week, 2002h). At yearend 2002, these warehouses held 44,200 t 

of NASAAC ingot (London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2002).

Prices

The monthly average U.S. market price of primary aluminum 

metal, as reported by Platts Metals Week, fluctuated throughout 

the year. The monthly average price began the year at 64.6 

cents per pound, reached a low for the year of 62.6 cents per 

pound in August, and, by December, had risen to 66.1 cents per 

pound. The average price for the year decreased to 64.9 cents 

per pound in 2002 from 68.8 cents per pound in 2001.

The LME average monthly cash price for high-grade primary 

aluminum ingot and the average monthly spot settlement price 

for primary aluminum ingot on the COMEX division of the New 

York Commodity Exchange, Inc. followed the same general 

trend as the U.S. market price. The 2002 average annual LME 

cash price was 61.2 cents per pound. The COMEX monthly 

average spot settlement price declined slightly from 65.1 cents 

per pound in January to 64.7 cents per pound in December.

Purchase prices for aluminum scrap, as quoted by American 

Metal Market, also fluctuated but closed at higher levels than 
5.4 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2002

those at the beginning of the year. The yearend price ranges for 

selected types of aluminum scrap were as follows: mixed lowcopper-content aluminum clips, 51 to 52 cents per pound; old 

sheet and cast aluminum, 48 to 49 cents per pound; and clean, 

dry aluminum turnings, 48 to 49 cents per pound.

Aluminum producers’ buying price range for processed and 

delivered UBCs, as quoted by American Metal Market, also 

closed higher at yearend. The price range began the year at 44 

to 45 cents per pound and closed the year at 49 to 51 cents per 

pound. Resource Recycling published a monthly transaction 

price for aluminum UBCs in its Container Recycling Report. 

During the year, the monthly average fluctuated but closed 

higher at yearend. The January average was 47.3 cents per 

pound, and the December average was 52.4 cents per pound. 

The annual average transaction price for aluminum UBCs, 

however, decreased to 49.1 cents per pound in 2002 from 50.2 

cents per pound in 2001.

The yearend indicator prices for selected secondary aluminum 

ingots, as published in American Metal Market, also increased 

compared with those at the beginning of the year. The closing 

prices for 2002 were as follows: alloy A380 (3% zinc content), 

76.2 cents per pound; alloy B380 (1% zinc content), 77.6 

cents per pound; alloy A360 (0.6% copper content), 80.5 cents 

per pound; alloy A413 (0.6% copper content), 80.5 cents per 

pound; and alloy 319, 79.1 cents per pound. Platts Metals Week 

published an annual average U.S. price of 70.2 cents per pound 

for A380 alloy (3% zinc content). The average annual LME 

cash price for a similar A380 alloy was 56 cents per pound.

In June, the LME started cash trading for the NASAAC. 

The annual average NASAAC cash price for 2002, based on 6 

months of trading, was 65.4 cents per pound.

Trade

Total exports of aluminum materials from the United States 

in 2002 were at the same level as those of 2001 (table 8). The 

decrease in exports of semifabricated material was compensated 

for by increases in exports of crude metal and alloys and 

aluminum scrap (table 9). About two-thirds of total U.S. exports 

in 2002 was shipped to Canada and Mexico. Shipments of 

aluminum scrap to China accounted for an additional 13% of 

total exports.

Imports for consumption increased compared with those 

of the previous year (table 10), reversing a 2-year downward 

trend. Canada remained the major source country, supplying 

more than one-half of the total imports in 2002 (table 11). 

Russia continued to be the second largest supplier of aluminum 

materials to the United States. 

World Review

World production of primary aluminum metal increased 7% 

in 2002 compared with that of 2001 (table 12). Most of the 

production increase was from new or expanded facilities in 

China. The estimated Chinese primary production has almost 

doubled over the past 5 years.

Unwrought aluminum inventories held by members of the IAI 

decreased to 1.66 Mt at yearend 2002 from 1.74 Mt at yearend 

2001. Unwrought aluminum is defined by the IAI as aluminum 

in its basic form made from primary metal or from scrap that 

is unworked in the metallurgical sense. IAI total aluminum 

inventories decreased to 2.93 Mt at yearend 2002 from 3.02 Mt 

at yearend 2001. Total aluminium is unwrought aluminum plus 

unprocessed scrap, metal in process, and finished semifabricated 

(mill) products (International Aluminium Institute, 2003).

Yearend 2002 inventories of primary aluminum metal held by 

the LME increased to 1.24 Mt from 821,000 t at yearend 2001. 

Aluminum alloy inventories decreased dramatically to 34,700 

t at yearend 2002 from 121,000 t at yearend 2001. At yearend 

2002, LME warehouses also held 44,200 t of NASAAC ingot 

(London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2002).

Industry Mergers.—Norsk Hydro of Norway purchased 

VAW Aluminium AG from E.ON AG, the German utility 

group. The new company will be called Hydro Aluminium AS 

(Norsk Hydro ASA, 2003, p. 20). VAW’s primary aluminum 

assets included the 210,000-t/yr Norf and 68,000-t/yr Stade 

smelters in Europe, the 150,000-t/yr Kurri Kurri smelter in New 

South Wales, and a 12.4% interest in the 460,000-t/yr Tomago 

smelter, also in New South Wales. VAW also had downstream 

aluminum assets, most notably a 50% interest in Aluminium 

Norf GmbH, which owns a 1.2-Mt/yr rolling mill that produced 

aluminum can sheet (Mining Journal, 2002b). VAW was 

particularly strong in the area of rolled and cast products, which 

would complement Norsk Hydro’s substantial market position 

in extruded products and profiles (Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002g). 

The acquisition made Norsk Hydro the third largest integrated 

aluminum company in the world, ranking behind Alcoa and 

Alcan (Platts Metals Week, 2002g). 

Corus Group plc, which was formed by the merger of 

Kononkliijke Hoogovens Aluminium and British Steel in 1999, 

announced plans to sell its aluminum assets—Corus Primary 

Aluminium, Corus Aluminium Rolled Products, and Corus 

Aluminium Extrusions (Metal Bulletin, 1999). Corus Primary 

operated two smelters, the 100,000-t/yr Delfzijl smelter in the 

Netherlands and the 86,000-t/yr Voerde smelter in Germany. 

Corus also held a 20% interest in the Alouette smelter in 

Canada. (More information can be found under the Canada 

section.) Corus Rolled Products operated rolling mills in 

Koblenz, Germany, and Duffel, Belgium, and had a 60% interest 

in the Cap de la Madeleine mill in Canada. Corus Extrusions 

had plants in Belgium, China, and Germany (Corus Group plc, 

2002a). On October 23, Corus Group agreed in principle to 

sell its rolled products and extrusions businesses to Pechiney 

pending approval of shareholders and appropriate regulatory 

authorities (Corus Group plc, 2002b). On March 11, 2003, 

however, Corus Group announced that the proposed sale to 

Pechiney had been rejected by the supervisory board of Corus 

Nederland BV (a wholly owned subsidiary of Corus Group) 

(Corus Group plc, 2003a). A subsequent court appeal was also 

rejected. As a result, Corus Group informed Pechiney that it had 

no further redress and would not proceed with the proposed sale 

(Corus Group plc, 2003b).

Armenia.—The Armenian Government approved the sale 

of its 26% of the Armenian-Russian joint-venture foil mill, 

Armenal, to Russian Aluminum (RusAl) making RusAl the sole 

owner of the plant. RusAl reportedly agreed to pay $500,000 

for the share package and to invest $34 million in the company 

during the next 10 years (Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 
ALUMINUM—2002 5.5

2002). Following completion of the latest upgrade to the mill in 

April 2002, capacity increased to approximately 23,000 t/yr of 

foil (Henry, 2002).

Australia.—Comalco Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary 

of Rio Tinto plc.) purchased Kobe Steel Ltd.’s interest in 

the 490,000-t/yr Boyne Island primary aluminum smelter in 

Gladstone. Comalco’s ownership share in the smelter increased 

from 54.19% to 59.39%. The remainder of the smelter is held 

by other Japanese interests (Rio Tinto plc., 2002). Expansion 

plans to increase capacity at the smelter to 700,000-t/yr, 

announced in 2001, have been deferred and will be reevaluated 

as aluminum market conditions improve (Platts Metals Week, 

2002c).

Norsk Hydro announced plans to install new technology on 

two potlines of the Kurri Kurri aluminum smelter in Hunter 

Valley, New South Wales. The upgrade would increase capacity 

at the primary smelter by 10% to 165,000 t/yr and improve the 

plant’s environmental performance. The project was expected 

to be completed in about 3 years (Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002h).

The joint-venture partners in the 460,000-t/yr Tomago 

primary aluminum smelter near Newcastle, New South Wales, 

have agreed to expand production capacity by 70,000 t/yr by 

increasing the current intensity of the smelter’s pots to 225,000 

amps. Participants in the smelter are Pechiney (51.55%), Gove 

Aluminium Finance Ltd. (36.05%), and Norsk Hydro (12.4%). 

The first incremental increase in production was expected to 

occur in 2004, and the targeted capacity of 530,000 t/yr should 

be reached in 2006 (Pechiney, 2002d).

Bahrain.—Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) signed an agreement 

with Pechiney to use Pechiney AP30 technology on its Line 

5 aluminum expansion project. The new 307,000-t/yr potline 

would have 336 cells and, upon completion, would increase 

capacity at the 520,000-t/yr smelter to more than 800,000 t/yr. 

Alba was also evaluating technical bids for the construction of 

a 650 megawatt (MW) power station to power the $1.7 billion 

Line 5 project. Meanwhile, Alba was preparing a report for 

its board of directors on a possible alliance with Alcoa and the 

construction of a 307,000-t/yr sixth potline that would increase 

capacity at the smelter to more than 1 Mt/yr (Platts Metals 

Week, 2002a).

Brazil.—Energy restrictions in the northern regions of Brazil 

that began in June 2001 were lifted in January. As a result, the 

Alumar and the Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. (Albrás) smelters 

returned to full production. The Albrás smelter restarted 

160 pots that were taken offline during the period of energy 

rationing. In addition, the company started up 45,000 t/yr of 

new capacity that was completed in December 2001 but could 

not be put into production until the energy rationing was lifted. 

Upon completion of the startup, the smelter was operating at 

its full production capacity of 406,000 t/yr. Alcoa and BHP 

Billiton restarted the 92,500 t/yr of production capacity that had 

been taken offline at its 370,000-t/yr Alumar smelter (Metal 

Bulletin, 2002a).

Energy restrictions in other areas of the country were lifted at 

the end of February. As a result, Alcan resumed full production 

at its Ouro Preto and Aratu smelters, which had been operating 

at reduced levels since June 2001 (Kinch, 2002).

Alcan opened its first South American composites production 

facility in Camaçari, Bahia State. At capacity, the facility 

was expected to produce 100,000 square meters per month 

of aluminum composite material, made with two sheets of 

aluminum bonded to a thermoplastic core. It is used primarily 

as exterior cladding on commercial buildings (Alcan Inc., 

2002i).

IMCO Recycling Inc. acquired an aluminum recycling 

plant in the city of Pindamonhangaba, Sao Paulo State, from 

Reciclagem de Materiais Industria e Comercio Ltda. (Recipar). 

The facility will be used to meet the terms of a long-term tolling 

agreement with Alcan, whose can sheet rolling mill is located 

nearby. The plant has shredding and delacquering equipment 

and two furnaces with a rated annual processing capacity of 

45,400 t (100 million pounds) of scrap (IMCO Recycling Inc., 

2002a).

Canada.—Alcan officially inaugurated its primary smelter 

and casting complex at Alma, Quebec. Construction on the 

Alma smelter began in March 1998, and the first metal was 

produced in October 2000. The smelter reached its engineered 

capacity of 400,000 t/yr in 2002 (Alcan Inc., 2002e).

Alcan purchased a 40% interest in the Aluminerie Alouette 

consortium that operates a 243,000-t/yr smelter in Sept-Îles, 

Quebec. In April, Alcan completed the purchase of the 20% 

interest held by Société Générale de Financement (SGF) (Alcan 

Inc., 2002c). In September, Alcan completed the acquisition 

of Corus Group’s 20% interest in the smelter (Alcan Inc., 

2002h). In July, SGF purchased Kobe Steel Ltd.’s 13.33% 

interest in Alouette (McCulloch, 2002). Norsk Hydro, which 

acquired a 20% interest in Alouette through its acquisition of 

VAW, joined the other members of the consortium (Alcan, 40%; 

Austria Metall AG, 20%; SGF, 13.33%; and Marubeni Corp, 

6.67%) in a planned 307,000-t/yr expansion of the smelter, 

which upon completion would bring total capacity to 550,000 

t/yr. Construction began in September and the first production 

of metal was scheduled for February 2005 (Norsk Hydro ASA, 

2002e). The technology selected for the smelter expansion 

was Pechiney’s AP30 technology, the same as that used in the 

existing smelter. The choice of technology will allow synergy 

benefits by combining the operation of the smelter’s existing 

264 electrolytic cells with the 300 additional cells planned for 

the expansion (Pechiney, 2002a). 

Alcoa announced plans for the modernization of its primary 

aluminum smelter in Baie Comeau, Quebec. The 8-year project 

will involve the replacement of the plant’s Soderberg production 

technology with a modern prebake technology. Alcoa also plans 

to maximize operations in the two units that are already using 

prebake technology. Upon completion of the project in 2010, 

production capacity at the plant is expected to increase from 

437,000 t/yr to 547,000 t/yr (Alcoa Inc., 2002j).

Alcan announced the restart of 60,000-t/yr of capacity at its 

Kitimat, British Columbia, smelter. The company had reduced 

its operating capacity from 277,000 t/yr to 180,000 t/yr in June 

2001 in response to a critical water shortage in the Nechako 

Reservoir, which supplied water to Alcan’s power generating 

station near Kemano, British Columbia (Alcan, 2002l).

Alcoa and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 

agreed to terminate discussions begun last year for new 

hydroelectric plants in the province, which would have supplied 

power for future aluminum processing facilities. The project is 

deemed to be uneconomic at this time (Keith, 2002).
5.6 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2002

Alcan sold its dross processing facility in Quebec to Scepter 

Aluminum Company, a privately held recycling business based 

in the United States. Under the terms of the transaction, the 

Guillaume-Tremblay Works will continue to process the dross 

produced by Alcan’s Quebec smelters (Alcan Inc., 2002d).

China.—Alcan announced an agreement in principle to form 

a joint venture with Qingtongxia Aluminum Company (QTX). 

Under the proposed joint venture, Alcan would acquire a 50% 

ownership position in the recently completed 130,000-t/yr 

primary aluminum smelter in the Ningxia Autonomous Region. 

In addition, Alcan would have the option to secure a 50% 

interest in the planned and approved 150,000-t/yr expansion of 

this smelter (Alcan Inc., 2002a).

Lanzhou Aluminium Co., Ltd. and Pechiney announced an 

agreement in principle to develop a technical joint venture 

aimed at constructing a new 260,000-t/yr smelter in Gansu 

Province. After signing the letter of intent, the companies will 

begin a detailed prefeasibility study in 2003. If the project 

proves to be clearly profitable, then the companies would create 

a joint venture in 2004, subject to the formal approval by the 

relevant Chinese authorities (Pechiney, 2002b).

Meanwhile, Alcoa and Aluminium Corporation of China 

Limited (Chalco) announced that the formalization of its joint 

venture at Pingguo would be delayed until 2003 giving both 

parties more time to complete the necessary commercial terms 

and to obtain the necessary government approvals. Under the 

previously announced agreement, the companies would form a 

50/50 joint venture at Chalco’s Pingguo alumina and aluminum 

production facilities. The companies have also committed to 

significant expansions of refining and smelting capacities during 

the next few years (Alcoa Inc., 2002i).

Emeishan Aluminium Industry Consortium announced the 

completion of the first phase of its new 300,000-t/yr smelter 

in Sichuan Province. The first stage capacity was 73,000 t/yr. 

Subsequent phases were expected to increase capacity to 

223,000 t/yr in 2003 and full capacity in 2005. The smelter uses 

prebake anode technology (American Metal Market, 2002e).

Chalco began trial runs at its new 55,000-t/yr Haixing smelter 

in Qinghai Province. The plant was expected to reach full 

production by yearend (American Metal Market, 2002a).

Henan Wanji Aluminium, formerly Xinan Aluminium Plant, 

reportedly completed a new smelter that increased capacity at 

its facility from 60,000 t/yr to 180,000 t/yr (American Metal 

Market, 2002b). 

Guangdong Fenglu Aluminium Co. commissioned a new 

extrusion plant at its facility in Nanhai, Guangdong Province. The 

new facility, which was in the final stages of trial runs, would add 

130,000 t/yr of capacity and increase the combined capacity of the 

plant’s two extrusion lines to 160,000 t/yr (Metal Bulletin, 2002c).

Czech Republic.—Nemak SA, headquartered in Monterrey, 

Mexico, began construction of its first European aluminum 

casting plant for automotive parts. The new facility, being 

built in Most, was expected to begin producing parts by late 

2003 or early 2004. The size and capacity of the plant were not 

disclosed but the first castings were expected to be aluminum 

cylinder heads for Jaguar Cars Ltd. (American Metal Market, 

2002f).

Sumitomo Light Metal Industries announced plans to build its 

first European production facility, also in the Czech Republic. 

The plant, which will produce extruded aluminum tubes for 

automotive air-conditioning systems, will be situated near 

Prague. Production at Sumikei Czech could begin as early as 

January 2004 (Metal Bulletin, 2002f).

Egypt.—Aluminium Company of Egypt announced 

a 50,000-t/yr expansion at its 190,000-t/yr smelter. The 

expansion, scheduled for completion in April 2004, included the 

construction of a new 92-pot potline and the refurbishment of an 

existing potline (Metal Bulletin, 2002b).

Germany.—IMCO exercised its preemptive rights to VAW’s 

50%-interest in VAW-Imco Guss und Recycling GmbH. VAWImco was formed in 1996 and operates two aluminum recycling 

and foundry alloy plants in Grevenbroich and Toging. The 

plants supply aluminum alloys to European automakers (IMCO 

Recycling Inc., 2002b).

Alcan announced that it had signed a definitive agreement 

with Norsk Hydro to purchase VAW Packaging (FlexPac) 

(Alcan Inc., 2002f). FlexPac, which included 14 plants in 8 

countries, produced flexible packaging products for the food, 

dairy, and pharmaceutical industries. At the conclusion of the 

definitive share-purchase agreement, Alcan would waive its 

preemptive rights with respect to the Alunorf rolling mill in 

Germany and would terminate the related litigation (Alcan Inc., 

2002g).

Ghana.—Drought conditions reduced the operating level 

of the Akosombo Dam hydroelectric plant and forced the 

Volta River Authority to reduce power allocations to the Volta 

Aluminum Company Limited (Valco) smelter. As a result, 

Kaiser, which owns 90% of the 200,000-t/yr smelter, curtailed 

production in March at a second of the smelter’s five potlines. 

Each of the smelter’s potlines has a capacity of about 40,000 

t/yr. Kaiser operated four potlines in 2000 and 2001 (Kaiser 

Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2002b).

Iceland.—Alcoa announced that it signed a memorandum 

of understanding (MOU) with the Government of Iceland and 

Landsvirkjun, Iceland’s national power company, formalizing 

its cooperation on a 295,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter 

to be built in eastern Iceland. Under the MOU, Landsvirkjun 

would begin development of a 500 MW hydropower facility 

in eastern Iceland, and Alcoa would complete environmental 

and engineering studies of the smelter near Reydarfjordur. The 

MOU also included construction of a harbor facility at Mjoeyri 

as well as related infrastructure improvements in the area (Alcoa 

Inc., 2002d).

India.—Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Indal) increased 

capacity at its Hirakud smelter by transporting potlines from 

the company’s mothballed Belgaum facility to Hirakud. The 

smelter’s capacity increased to 57,000 t/yr from 30,000 t/yr 

(Mining Journal, 2002a).

Italy.—Alcan announced the sale of its rolled product circles 

production unit in Pieve Emanuele to Aliberico Group of 

Madrid, Spain. The circles, manufactured from sheet aluminum, 

are largely for the kitchenware market (Alcan Inc., 2002j).

Japan.—Allis Sanyo (a subsidiary of Honda Trading) 

commissioned new facilities that would increase its capacity for 

secondary aluminum alloy production to 3,000 t/mo. Molten 

metal from Allis Sanyo will be delivered to Honda’s motorbike 

and engine plant in Ozu, Kumamoto (Metal Bulletin, 2002d).
ALUMINUM—2002 5.7

Showa Denko shut five aluminum extrusion presses to bring 

active capacity closer to actual production levels. Sluggish 

demand for aluminum sashes, windows, and doors led the 

company to close down the presses at its Oyama and Sakai 

plants (Metal Bulletin, 2002e).

Tokai Aluminium Foil commissioned a new foil plant that 

initially will produce foil for the dairy industry. Throughput 

at the plant will be about 20 t/mo of primary ingot. Tokai 

Aluminium is Japan’s third largest aluminum foil maker (Metal 

Bulletin, 2002g).

In March, Alcoa purchased an additional 20.3% interest 

in Shibazaki Seisakusho Ltd., a manufacturer of plastic 

and aluminum closures and caps for the beverage and 

pharmaceutical industries, from The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. 

The acquisition increased Alcoa’s holding to 70.8% from its 

original 50.5% investment, which it had held since 1979. Alcoa 

then began a tender offer for the remaining shares of Shibazaka 

(Alcoa Inc., 2002e). Upon acquiring additional shares in the 

company, Alcoa’s ownership stake increased to 95.9% (Alcoa 

Inc., 2002c).

Malaysia.—A group of investors from Dubai and Bahrain, 

Gulf International Investment Group, signed an agreement for 

the development of a new 500,000-t/yr aluminum smelter in 

Sarawak. The smelter would be constructed in two stages of 

250,000 t/yr each. BHP Billiton reportedly expressed interest 

in joining the consortium. The viability of the plan, however, 

hinged on the construction of the 2,400-MW Bakun Dam 

hydroelectric powerplant (CRU Aluminium Monitor, 2002).

Mexico.—IMCO announced that its joint venture in 

Monterrey (IMCO Reciclaje de Nuevo Leon S. de R.L. de C.V.) 

was awarded a long-term contract to recycle aluminum drosses 

and scrap for Nemak, S.A., a producer of aluminum cylinder 

heads and engine blocks. To meet the terms of the contract, 

a new 45,400-t/yr (100-million-pound-per-year) facility was 

built to upgrade and eventually replace the current operation of 

equivalent size (IMCO Recycling Inc., 2002c). Note that the 

annual capacity of the original facility quoted in the aluminum 

chapter of the 2001 USGS Minerals Yearbook is incorrect.

Norway.—In February, Alcoa increased its share of Elkem 

ASA to 40.2% (Alcoa Inc., 2002a). By November, Alcoa held 

46.5% of Elkem’s shares (Alcoa Inc., 2002k).

Hydro Aluminium AS (a subsidiary of Norsk Hydro) 

commissioned the first cells in the new potroom of the Sunndal 

aluminum smelter. The new potroom is the first phase of the 

smelter’s expansion and modernization project that began in 

June 2001. Section 1, which consists of 108 cells with a total 

annual capacity of approximately 76,000 t, was expected to be 

fully operational early in 2003. Concurrently, the old Soderberg 

cells, with an annual capacity of 66,000 t, were to be gradually 

phased out. Section 2 was scheduled for completion in the 

summer of 2003. A total of 340 cells using Norsk Hydro’s 

proprietary process technology, HAL250, are to be installed. 

Upon completion of the project in 2004, capacity at the Sunndal 

smelter would increase to about 330,000 t/yr (Norsk Hydro 

ASA, 2002a, c).

In response to shortages in Norway’s electricity supply, Hydro 

Aluminium cut aluminum production at its Karmoy smelter by 

3,500 t. The reduction coincided with the seasonal slowdown 

in demand for extrusion ingot expected early in 2003. The 

unused power was sold back to the Norwegian electricity grid. 

Rising electricity prices also forced Hydro Aluminium to close 

redundant Soderberg capacity at its Sunndal smelter sooner than 

originally planned, cutting production by 1,400 t (American 

Metal Market, 2002c).

In an effort to ease the country’s escalating power crisis, 

Norsk Hydro agreed to purchase 300 MW of electricity 

from Russian energy producer Unified Energy System. 

Reduced autumn rainfall led to diminished reservoir levels at 

hydroelectric plants. The additional power, to be delivered in 

January 2003 through Finland to the joint Nordic electricity 

grid, will be sold by Norsk Hydro’s energy arm to the domestic 

market to improve the power balance in the region (American 

Metal Market, 2002g). 

Qatar.—United Development Co. (UDC), a private 

investment company in Qatar, announced plans to build a 

500,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter in the Ras Laffan 

industrial area. The smelter could be expanded in stages to a 

capacity of up to 1 Mt/yr. UDC is developing the smelter under 

contract from the Qatari Government (Cooper, 2002).

Romania.—A consortium formed by U.S.-based trader Marco 

International, its Romanian subsidiary Conef SA, and Marco 

Acquisitions purchased a 10% interest in the 175,000-t/yr 

ALRO SA (Slatina) primary aluminum smelter. The purchase 

gave Marco controlling interest (roughly 54%) of the company’s 

outstanding shares (American Metal Market, 2002i; Guerriere, 

2002c).

Later in the year, Marco purchased a controlling interest 

(69.9%) in the Aprom SA aluminum rolling mill from the 

Romanian Government for $4 million and pledged to invest 

an additional $9.9 million in mill improvements. The mill 

reportedly produces bars, pipes, and plates (American Metal 

Market, 2002h).

Russia.—Norsk Hydro and RusAl entered into a long-term 

agreement for the production and sourcing of high-grade 

aluminum extrusion ingots. Norsk Hydro will participate 

in a two-stage upgrade of the Sayanogorsk smelter cast 

house. Norsk Hydro will provide its own proprietary casting 

equipment, which RusAl will use to supply extrusion ingots 

back to Norsk Hydro. The first stage, scheduled for completion 

by yearend 2003, would add 80,000 t/yr of extrusion ingot 

casting capacity. The second stage, to follow a few years later, 

would bring casting capacity up to 160,000 t/yr (Norsk Hydro 

ASA, 2002f).

South Africa.—BHP Billiton approved the Hillside aluminum 

smelter expansion project Hillside 3. The $449 million project 

will add 132,000 t/yr of capacity to the 515,000-t/yr smelter 

at Richards Bay, which was completed in 1996. Construction 

began in April, commissioning was scheduled for April 2004, 

and full production was expected in mid-2004. Hillside 3 

will include a third potline (half the size of the existing two 

potlines), an anode-baking furnace, additional casting facilities, 

and all necessary related infrastructure. The expansion, like 

the existing smelter, will use Pechiney AP30 technology (BHP 

Billiton, 2002).

Spain.—Norsk Hydro opened its new aluminum remelt and 

recycling plant at Azuqueca de Henares, near Madrid. The plant 

has the capacity to produce 60,000 t/yr of extrusion ingot from 

aluminum scrap (Platts Metals Week, 2002f).
5.8 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2002

Sweden.—Elkem ASA’s wholly owned subsidiary (Elkem 

Sweden AB) increased its share in the Swedish aluminum 

semifabricator, Sapa AB, from 36% to 71.4% (Elkem ASA, 

2002).

Stena Aluminium AS completed the installation of two new 

rotary furnaces at its secondary smelter in Älmhult. Each new 

furnace has the capacity to melt 25,000 t/yr of aluminum scrap. 

The project has increased the plant’s melt capacity from 30,000 

t/yr (Conway, 2002).

Ukraine.—Ukrainskiy Aluminiy (UkrAl) (a subsidiary of 

RusAl) reportedly began construction on a 120,000-t/yr primary 

aluminum smelter in the city of Pervomaysk. The $300 million 

project was part of an investment commitment made by RusAl 

in March 2000 when it purchased a 30% interest in Ukraine’s 

Nikolayev Alumina Plant (Platts Metals Week, 2002i).

United Arab Emirates.—Dubai Aluminium Company Ltd. 

(Dubal) received approval for a refurbishment project, the 

Kestrel project, which would increase capacity at the 536,000-

t/yr smelter to more than 700,000 t/yr. The project involves the 

upgrading and extension of Dubal’s initial three potlines and the 

extension of its more recent fourth potline. Work was expected 

to be completed by 2006 (Platts Metals Week, 2002d).

Outlook

World aluminum supply probably will continue to outstrip 

demand. Although many industry observers believe that there 

could be significant growth in aluminum demand during the 

next few years, supply expansions, especially in China, were 

expected to more than meet the increase in demand.

References Cited

Alcan Inc., 2002a, Agreement with Qingtongxia Aluminum Company 

includes 50% ownership and brownfield expansion options: Montreal, 

Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, June 6, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002b, Alcan announces reduction of light-gauge aluminum 

production capacity in North America: Cleveland, OH, Alcan Inc. press 

release, September 25, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002c, Alcan completes acquisition of a 20 percent interest in the 

Aluminerie Alouette smelter: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press 

release, April 24, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002d, Alcan completes the sale of a dross facility in Quebec: 

Saguenay, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, June 13, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002e, Alcan inaugurates state-of-the-art Alma complex—

US$2.2-billion facility strengthens Quebec base: Alma, Quebec, Canada, 

Alcan Inc. press release, September 19, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002f, Alcan Inc. signs definitive agreement to buy VAW 

Packaging: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, 

December 20, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002g, Alcan Inc. to buy VAW Packaging: Montreal, Quebec, 

Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, November 22, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002h, Alcan now owns 40 percent of Alouette—Following 

completion of additional 20 percent acquisition: Montreal, Quebec, 

Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, September 17, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002i, Alcan opens its first South American composite plant: 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, October 22, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002j, Alcan sells rolled product circles operation: Montreal, 

Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, September 25, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002k, Alcan technology enables landmark aluminum Jaguar: 

Paris, France, Alcan Inc. press release, September 26, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2002l, Alcan to re-start 60,000 tonnes of aluminum production in 

British Columbia: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, 

June 13, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002a, Alcoa acquires 59,388 additional Elkem shares; tender 

offer expires: Pittsburgh, PA, and Oslo, Norway, Alcoa Inc. press release, 

February 22, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002b, Alcoa adjusts production capacity at two U.S. smelters: 

Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, April 15, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002c, Alcoa completes tender offer for Shibazaki, raising 

ownership stake to 95.9% from 70.8%: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press 

release, May 1, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002d, Alcoa, Government of Iceland and Landsvirkjun, Iceland’s 

national power company, sign memorandum of understanding on new 

smelter in eastern Iceland: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, July 

19, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002e, Alcoa raises stake in Shibazaki to more than 70%; will 

make friendly tender offer for remainder of the company: Pittsburgh, PA, 

Alcoa Inc. press release, March 28, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002f, Alcoa receives EU antitrust clearance to acquire Fairchild 

Fasteners: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, October 14, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002g, Alcoa reduces capacity; continues to implement its longterm, low-cost production strategy: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press 

release, July 31, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002h, Alcoa’s Reynolds Wrap brand introduces biggest 

innovation in aluminum foil since 1947; new Reynolds Wrap Release nonstick aluminum foil: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, July 18, 2 p. 

Alcoa Inc., 2002i, Chalco and Alcoa announce revised timetable in 

formalizing Pingguo joint venture: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press 

release, December 17, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002j, Major support for development in the North Shore; 

Alcoa to invest $1 billion-Can-to expand and upgrade its Baie-Comeau 

aluminum smelter: Baie Comeau, Quebec, Canada, Alcoa Inc. press 

release, December 16, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2002k, Period closes for Alcoa limited tender offer—Preliminary 

results: Pittsburgh, PA, and Oslo, Norway, Alcoa Inc. press release, 

October 16, 1 p.

Aluminum Association Inc., 2003a, Aluminum beverage can continues to be 

most recycled consumer beverage package: Washington, DC, Aluminum 

Association Inc. press release, April 11, 3 p. 

Aluminum Association Inc., 2003b, The aluminum situation: Aluminum 

Association Inc., February, 4 p.

American Metal Market, 2002a, Chalco begins trials at Haixing aluminum 

smelter: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 12, January 17, p. 4.

American Metal Market, 2002b, Henan Wanji Aluminium boosts smelting 

capacity: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 87-5, September 27, p. 6.

American Metal Market, 2002c, Hydro scaling back Karmoy output by 

3,500t: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 99-3, December 18, p. 6.

American Metal Market, 2002d, Kaiser sells coat line, more may go on block: 

American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 70-3, May 30, p. 1-2.

American Metal Market, 2002e, Multistage expansion proceeds at Sichuan 

smelter: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 10, January 15, p. 5.

American Metal Market, 2002f, Nemak starts work on Czech casting plant: 

American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 69, May 20, p. 21.

American Metal Market, 2002g, Norsk Hydro taps Russian power in move 

to plug Norwegian crisis: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 99-4, 

December 19, p. 5.

American Metal Market, 2002h, Romania completes Alprom mill sale to 

Marco: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 100-2, December 24, p. 6.

American Metal Market, 2002i, Romania sale of key stake in Alro to be 

investigated: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 74-3, June 26, p. 1, 3.

American Metal Market, 2002j, Stratcor shuts Niagara Falls line in shift to 

new Pa. plant: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 45, March 7, p. 4.

BHP Billiton, 2002, BHP Billiton approves Hillside aluminium smelter expansion: 

Melbourne, Australia, BHP Billiton news release, February 12, 3 p.

Brooks, David, 2002, Pechiney holds McCook gear as layoffs start: 

American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 97-3, December 4, p. 1-2. 

Century Aluminum Co., 2002, USWA and Century extend Ravenswood labor 

agreement: Ravenswood, WV, Century Aluminum Co. press release, 

March 11, 1 p.

Conway, Declan, 2002, Stena readies furnace: Metal Bulletin, no. 8701, 

August 22, p. 10.

Cooper, Mike, 2002, Qatar al smelter investors think ahead to expansion: 

Metal Bulletin, no. 8721, November 4, p. 5.

Corus Group plc, 2002a, Corus announces 2001 results and sell off of 

aluminium: London, United Kingdom, Corus Group plc press release, 

March 18, 2 p.
ALUMINUM—2002 5.9

Corus Group plc, 2002b, Corus proposed sale of its downstream aluminium 

businesses for EUR 861m (₤543m): London, United Kingdom, Corus 

Group plc press release, October 23, 2 p.

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Elkem ASA, 2002, Elkem reached 71,4 per cent ownership interest in Sapa 

AB through its public offer for the company: Oslo, Norway, Elkem ASA 

press release, September 12, 1 p.

Guerriere, Alison, 2002a, Hydro to shutter Moultrie aluminum extrusion 

plant: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 90-1, October 14, p. 1-2.

Guerriere, Alison, 2002b, Kaiser to end production of lid, tab stock for cans: 

American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 63-4, April 11, p. 1.

Guerriere, Alison, 2002c, Marco gets OK on Alro deal, confirms Alprom bid: 

American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 91-2, October 22, p. 4.

Henry, Anna, 2002, Armenal transforms with modernization: Light Metal 

Age, v. 60, no. 11-12, December, p. 10-14.

IMCO Recycling Inc., 2002a, IMCO Recycling acquires facility in Brazil, 

obtains new long-term agreement: Irving, TX, IMCO Recycling Inc. press 

release, June 18, 1 p.

IMCO Recycling Inc., 2002b, IMCO Recycling exercises rights to obtain full 

ownership of German joint venture: Irving, TX, IMCO Recycling Inc. 

press release, June 19, 1 p.

IMCO Recycling Inc., 2002c, IMCO Recycling’s Mexican joint venture 

receives long-term contract and is building new facility: Irving, TX, 

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Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 2002, Armenia to sell Russian Aluminum 

26% of Armenal: Interfax Mining & Metals Report, v. 11, issue 51, 

December 20, p. 18.

International Aluminium Institute, 2003, Aluminium inventories: 

International Aluminium Institute Form 351, May 27, 2 p.

Journal of Metals, 2002, Aluminum industry and automotive engineers 

discuss increased use of aluminum: Journal of Metals, v. 54, no. 1, 

January, p. 5-6.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2002a, Kaiser Aluminum files voluntary 

petition under Chapter 11 of United States Bankruptcy Code: Houston, TX, 

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press release, February 12, 2 p.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2002b, Kaiser aluminum smelter in 

Ghana curtails one potline: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical 

Corp. press release, March 5, 1 p.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2002c, Kaiser Aluminum to sell 

Tacoma, Washington, property to Port of Tacoma: Houston, TX, Kaiser 

Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press release, December 19, 2 p.

Keith, Darcy, 2002, Alcoa, Canadians pull plug on hydroelectric dialogue: 

American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 79-3, July 31, p. 1-2.

Kinch, Diana, 2002, Alcan back to full output at Brazil sites: American Metal 

Market, v. 110, no. 63-1, April 8, p. 1-2.

Light Metal Age, 2002, Global al content in autos: Light Metal Age, v. 60, 

no. 9-10, October, p. 51.

London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2002, Aluminium stocks: London, United 

Kingdom, Metal Exchange Ltd., December 31, 3 p.

McCulloch, Russ, 2002, Kobe Steel sells Sept-Iles smelter stake: Metal 

Bulletin, no. 8690, July 11, p. 4.

Metal Bulletin, 1999, Hoogovens’ Al operations to be retained by BSKH: 

Metal Bulletin, no. 8383, June 10, p. 3.

Metal Bulletin, 2002a, Brazil’s northern al smelters head for full production: 

Metal Bulletin, no. 8640, January 14, p. 3.

Metal Bulletin, 2002b, Egyptalum expansion due on line by 2004: Metal 

Bulletin, no. 8688, July 4, p. 6.

Metal Bulletin, 2002c, Guangdong Al extruder starts new line: Metal 

Bulletin, no. 8669, April 29, p. 5.

Metal Bulletin, 2002d, Honda subsidiary to raise aluminium alloy capacity: 

Metal Bulletin, no. 8675, May 20, p. 15.

Metal Bulletin, 2002e, Showa Denko cuts aluminium extrusion capacity: 

Metal Bulletin, no. 8707, September 16, p. 5.

Metal Bulletin, 2002f, Sumitomo Light Metal plans aluminium tube plant in 

Czech Republic: Metal Bulletin, no. 8716, October 17, p. 5.

Metal Bulletin, 2002g, Tokai Aluminium commissions new foil plant: Metal 

Bulletin, no. 8690, July 11, p. 5.

Mining Journal, 2002a, Hirakud expansion complete: Mining Journal, v. 339, 

no. 8703, September 20, p. 203.

Mining Journal, 2002b, Norsk Hydro to buy VAW: Mining Journal, v. 338, 

no. 8667, January 11, p. 17.

Mining Journal, 2002c, Vanalco sale closed: Mining Journal, v. 338, 

no. 8683, May 3, p. 322.

Noranda Inc., 2002, Workers at Noranda’s primary aluminum plant ratify 

new five-year collective agreement: New Madrid, MO, Noranda Inc. news 

release, June 21, 1 p.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002a, Capacity increase—Official opening of new 

Sunndal: Oslo, Norway, Norsk Hydro ASA press release, December 3, 1 p.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002b, Early start-up of new remelt facility in Commerce, 

Texas: Oslo, Norway, Norsk Hydro ASA press release, November 22, 1 p.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002c, First new cell commissioned in Sunndal: Oslo, 

Norway, Norsk Hydro ASA press release, October 28, 1 p.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002d, Hydro Aluminium step[s] up production of engine 

blocks: Oslo, Norway, Norsk Hydro ASA press release, July 2, 1 p.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002e, Hydro Aluminium to further develop low-cost 

Alouette smelter: Oslo, Norway, Norsk Hydro ASA press release, 

September 30, 1 p.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002f, Long term agreement with RUSAL: Oslo, 

Norway, Norsk Hydro ASA press release, July 24, 1 p.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002g, Pro forma information for Hydro and VAW: Oslo, 

Norway, Norsk Hydro ASA press release, February 18, 3 p.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002h, Upgrade in Kurri Kurri: Oslo, Norway, Norsk 

Hydro ASA press release, September 2, 1 p.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2003, Annual report—2002: Oslo, Norway, Norsk Hydro 

ASA, 140 p.

Pechiney, 2002a, Aluminerie Alouette phase II—Alouette selects Pechiney 

AP-30 electrolysis technology: Sept Îles, Quebec, Canada, Pechiney press 

release, July 23, 1 p.

Pechiney, 2002b, Pechiney and Lanzhou Aluminium Co., Ltd. lay the 

foundation of a joint-venture in China: Paris, France, Pechiney press 

release, July 30, 1 p.

Pechiney, 2002c, Pechiney completes the acquisition of certain McCook 

assets for around $20 million: Paris, France, Pechiney press release, May 

15, 1 p.

Pechiney, 2002d, Tomago smelter to increase its capacity: Newcastle, 

Australia, Pechiney press release, April 29, 1 p.

Pinkham, Myra, 2002, Growing pains, in LME supplement: Metal Bulletin 

Monthly, October, p. 9, 11.

Platts Metals Week, 2002a, Alba awaits financial bids for fifth potline 

funding: Platts Metals Week, v. 73, no. 41, November 14, p. 10-11.

Platts Metals Week, 2002b, Ball completes Schmalbach purchase: Platts 

Metals Week, v. 73, no. 52, December 30, p. 7.

Platts Metals Week, 2002c, Boyne expansion shelved: Platts Metals Week, 

v. 73, no. 49, December 9, p. 12.

Platts Metals Week, 2002d, Dubai output to hit 700,000mt by 2006: Platts 

Metals Week, v. 73, no. 25, June 24, p. 11.

Platts Metals Week, 2002e, Golden Northwest Aluminum to restart one line 

this month: Platts Metals Week, v. 73, no. 36, September 9, p. 6-7.

Platts Metals Week, 2002f, Hydro opens Spanish remelt plant: Platts Metals 

Week, v. 73, no. 16, April 22, p. 10.

Platts Metals Week, 2002g, Hydro’s VAW buy to fill rolling gap, boost 

extrusions: Platts Metals Week, v. 73, no. 2, January 14, p. 1, 5-6.

Platts Metals Week, 2002h, LME sees new alloy contract building liquidity 

over years: Platts Metals Week, v. 73, no. 5, February 4, p. 6.

Platts Metals Week, 2002i, RusAl starts building new smelter: Platts Metals 

Week, v. 73, no. 52, December 30, p. 7.

Platts Metals Week, 2002j, Superior expands alloy output: Platts Metals 

Week, v. 73, no. 40, October 7, p. 7.

Platts Metals Week, 2002k, Wabash closes Syracuse: Platts Metals Week, 

v. 73, no. 22, June 3, p. 5.

Platts Metals Week, 2002l, Wabash to close Benton secondary aluminum 

alloy plant: Platts Metals Week, v. 73, no. 47, November 25, p. 10.

Rio Tinto plc., 2002, Comalco increases stake in Boyne Smelters Limited: 

London, United Kingdom, Rio Tinto plc. news release, June 6, 2 p.

Schaffer, Paul, 2002a, Allied owners obtain assets of Ala. smelter: American 

Metal Market, v. 110, no. 101-1, December 30, p. 1-2.

Schaffer, Paul, 2002b, TST, Hydro Aluminum dance Texas alloy smelter twostep: American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 69, May 20, p. 18.

Schaffer, Paul, 2002c, Wabash marks course change with Culp deal: 

American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 85-3, September 11, p. 1-2.

Schaffer, Paul, 2002d, Zemex agrees to buy assets of bankrupt dross recycler: 
5.10 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2002

American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 61, March 29, p. 7.

Wrigley, Al, 2002, Bigger is better for North American metal suppliers: 

American Metal Market, v. 110, no. 81, August 12, p. 4. 

Internet Reference Cited

Reese, Dave, 2002 (December 8), Columbia Falls Aluminum Company 

operating smoothly since reopening, accessed June 18, 2003, via URL

http://www.dailyinterlake.com.

GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

U.S. Geological Survey Publications

Aluminum. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries, annual.

Aluminum. Mineral Industry Surveys, monthly.

Aluminum and Bauxite. Ch. in United States Mineral 

Resources, Professional Paper 820, 1973.

Bauxite and Alumina. Ch. in Mineral Commodity 

Summaries, annual.

Primary Aluminum Plants Worldwide, 1998.

U.S. Trade in Bauxite and Alumina. Mineral Industry 

Surveys, quarterly.

World Bauxite Resources. Professional Paper 1076-B, 1986.

Other

Alumina Plants Worldwide. U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1993.

Aluminum. Ch. in Mineral Facts and Problems, U.S. Bureau 

of Mines Bulletin 675, 1985.

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

United States:

Primary production:

Quantity thousand metric tons 3,713 3,779 3,668 2,637 2,707

Value millions $5,360 $5,470 $6,030 $4,000 $3,870

Price, average, U.S. market, spot cents per pound 65.5 65.7 74.6 68.8 64.9

Inventories (December 31):

Aluminum industry

2 thousand metric tons 1,930 1,870 1,550 1,300 1,320

LME stocks in U.S. warehouses3 do. 13 14 (4) 28 45

Secondary recovery:

5 3,440 3,700 3,450 2,970 r 2,930

New scrap do. 1,950 2,120 2,080 1,760 r 1,750

Old scrap do. 1,500 1,570 1,370 1,210 r 1,170

Exports, crude and semicrude do. 1,590 1,650 1,760 1,590 1,590

Imports for consumption, crude and semicrude do. 3,550 4,000 3,910 3,740 4,060

Supply, apparent6 do. 9,040 9,890 9,610 7,990 r 8,060

Consumption, apparent7 do. 7,090 7,770 7,530 6,230 6,310

World, production do. 22,600 23,600 24,400 24,300 r 25,900 e

4

Less than 1/2 unit.

3

Includes aluminum alloyed material.

Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau; 1999 through 2002 data from the Aluminum Association Inc.

7

Apparent supply less recovery from purchased new scrap.

and industry stock changes.

6

Defined as domestic primary metal production plus secondary recovery plus imports minus exports plus adjustments for Government

5

Metallic recovery from purchased, tolled, or imported new and old scrap expanded for full industry coverage.

2

Includes ingot, semifabricated material, and scrap. 1998 data from Current Industrial Reports, Series M33-D, U.S. Department of

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits, except "Primary production."

e

Estimated. rRevised.

TABLE 1

SALIENT ALUMINUM STATISTICS1
ALUMINUM—2002 5.11

Company 2001 2002 2002 ownership 

Alcan Aluminum Corp., Sebree, KY 196 196 Alcan Inc., 100%.

Alcoa Inc.:

Alcoa, TN 210 210 Alcoa Inc., 100%.

Badin, NC 120 120 Do.

Evansville, IN (Warrick) 309 309 Do.

Ferndale, WA (Intalco) 278 278 Alcoa Inc., 61%; Mitsui & Co. Ltd., 32%; YKK Corp., 7%.

Frederick, MD (Eastalco) 192 192 Do.

Massena, NY (St. Lawrence) 125 125 Alcoa Inc., 100%.

Massena, NY 130 130 Do.

Mount Holly, SC 212 212 Alcoa Inc., 50.3%; Century Aluminum Co., 49.7%.

Rockdale, TX 340 264 Alcoa Inc., 100%.

Troutdale, OR 121 -- Do.

Wenatchee, WA 227 227 Do.

Total 2,260 2,070

Century Aluminum Co.:

Hawesville, KY 237 237 Century Aluminum Co., 80%; Glencore International AG, 20%.

Ravenswood, WV 170 170 Century Aluminum Co., 100%.

Total 407 407

Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., Columbia Falls, MT 168 168 Glencore International AG, 100%.

Goldendale Aluminum Co., Goldendale, WA 168 168 Private interest, 60%; employees, 40%.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp.:

Mead, WA (Spokane) 200 200 MAXXAM Inc., 100%.

Tacoma, WA2 73 -- Do.

Total 273 200

Longview Aluminum, L.L.C., Longview, WA 204 204 Michigan Avenue Partners, 100%.

Noranda Aluminum Inc., New Madrid, MO 230 250 Noranda Mines Ltd., 100%.

Northwest Aluminum Corp., The Dalles, OR 82 82 Private interest, 100%.

Ormet Primary Aluminum Corp., Hannibal, OH 257 257 Ormet Corp., 100%.

Vanalco Inc., Vancouver, WA 116 116 Glencore International AG, 100%.

Grand total 4,370 4,120

TABLE 2

PRIMARY ANNUAL ALUMINUM PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN THE UNITED STATES, BY COMPANY1

Yearend capacity

(thousand metric tons)

2

Sold to Tacoma Port Authority December 2002; scheduled for permanent closure.

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

-- Zero.

Class Consumption Aluminum Metallic

2001:

Secondary smelters 1,630,000 r 1,130,000 r 1,220,000 r

Integrated aluminum companies 946,000 772,000 823,000

Independent mill fabricators 695,000 601,000 642,000

Foundries 89,000 74,800 80,000

Other consumers 12,100 12,100 12,100

Total 3,370,000 r 2,590,000 r 2,770,000 r

Estimated full industry coverage 3,610,000 r 2,770,000 r 2,970,000 r

2002:

Secondary smelters 1,680,000 1,130,000 1,220,000

Integrated aluminum companies 869,000 707,000 752,000

Independent mill fabricators 698,000 607,000 648,000

Foundries 112,000 95,300 102,000

Other consumers 8,320 8,250 8,250

Total 3,370,000 2,550,000 2,730,000

Estimated full industry coverage 3,620,000 2,730,000 2,930,000

TABLE 3

U.S. CONSUMPTION OF AND RECOVERY FROM PURCHASED NEW AND OLD ALUMINUM SCRAP, BY CLASS1, 2

(Metric tons)

1

Excludes recovery from other than aluminum-base scrap.

r

Revised.

2

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

Calculated recovery
5.12 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2002

Stocks, Net Stocks,

Class of consumer and type of scrap January 1 receipts3 Consumption December 31

Secondary smelters:

New scrap:

Solids 19,300 r 250,000 258,000 11,600

Borings and turnings 4,370 r 230,000 229,000 4,930

Dross and skimmings 3,090 r 502,000 500,000 5,020

Other

4 1,060 r 178,000 178,000 616

Total 27,900 r 1,160,000 1,170,000 22,100

Old scrap:

Castings, sheet, clippings 6,090 r 301,000 298,000 8,870

Aluminum-copper radiators 1,710 r 17,900 18,000 1,550

Aluminum cans5 1,390 93,100 93,600 838

Other

6 5,670 r 92,400 96,800 1,310

Total 14,900 r 504,000 506,000 12,600

Sweated pig 151 r 9,370 8,950 567

Total secondary smelters 42,900 r 1,670,000 1,680,000 35,300

Integrated aluminum companies, foundries, independent mill

fabricators, other consumers:

New scrap:

Solids 9,160 r 709,000 700,000 18,000

Borings and turnings 352 19,600 19,500 465

Dross and skimmings 148 5,340 5,320 163

Other

4 7,770 176,000 177,000 6,150

Total 17,400 r 909,000 902,000 24,800

Old scrap:

Castings, sheet, clippings 4,210 131,000 131,000 4,880

Aluminum-copper radiators 324 4,820 4,780 361

Aluminum cans5 31,500 616,000 619,000 27,900

Other

6 22 29,800 29,800 22

Total 36,000 782,000 785,000 33,100

Sweated pig 33 1,130 1,140 22

Total integrated aluminum companies, etc. 53,500 r 1,690,000 1,690,000 57,900

All scrap consumed:

New scrap:

Solids 28,500 r 959,000 958,000 29,500

Borings and turnings 4,720 r 250,000 249,000 5,400

Dross and skimmings 3,240 r 507,000 505,000 5,180

Other

4 8,840 r 353,000 355,000 6,760

Total 45,300 r 2,070,000 2,070,000 46,900

Old scrap:

Castings, sheet, clippings 10,300 r 432,000 429,000 13,700

Aluminum-copper radiators 2,030 r 22,700 22,800 1,910

Aluminum cans 32,900 709,000 713,000 28,700

Other

6 5,690 r 122,000 127,000 1,330

Total 50,900 r 1,290,000 1,290,000 45,700

Sweated pig 184 r 10,500 10,100 589

Total of all scrap consumed 96,300 r 3,370,000 3,370,000 93,200

TABLE 4

U.S. STOCKS, RECEIPTS, AND CONSUMPTION OF PURCHASED NEW AND OLD ALUMINUM SCRAP

(Metric tons)

AND SWEATED PIG IN 20021, 2

6

Includes municipal wastes (including litter) and fragmentized scrap (auto shredder).

5

Used beverage cans toll treated for primary producers are included in secondary smelter tabulation.

4

Includes data on foil, can stock clippings, and other miscellaneous.

3

Includes inventory adjustment.

2

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

metric tons, was received on toll arrangements.

1

Includes imported scrap. According to reporting companies, 8.08% of total receipts of aluminum-base scrap, or 278,000

r

Revised.
ALUMINUM—2002 5.13

Net Net 

Production shipments2 Production shipments2

Diecast alloys:

13% Si, 360, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 21,000 r 22,200 r 24,300 25,200

380 and variations 385,000 r 388,000 r 384,000 379,000

Sand and permanent mold:

95/5 Al-Si, 356, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 57,200 r 58,100 r 49,100 61,800

No. 319 and variations 116,000 r 121,000 r 128,000 134,000

F-132 alloy and variations 24,300 25,000 27,700 27,300

Al-Mg alloys 639 639 1,190 1,180

Al-Zn alloys 1,780 1,940 2,080 3,020

Al-Si alloys (0.6% to 2.0% Cu) 2,020 2,020 634 614

Al-Cu alloys (1.5% Si, maximum) 2,290 2,290 3,460 3,590

Al-Si-Cu-Ni alloys 949 950 45 38

Other 1,340 1,320 r 938 975

Wrought alloys, extrusion billets 209,000 r 206,000 r 240,000 240,000

Miscellaneous:

Steel deoxidation W W W W

Pure (97.0% Al) W W W W

Aluminum-base hardeners 3,470 3,470 3,380 3,380

Other

3 104,000 r 106,000 r 88,000 87,800

Total 929,000 r 939,000 r 954,000 968,000

Less consumption of materials other than scrap:

Primary aluminum 70,900 XX 97,700 XX

Primary silicon 42,100 r XX 43,400 XX

Other 7,630 r XX 9,040 XX

Net metallic recovery from aluminum scrap and sweated pig consumed in

production of secondary aluminum ingot4 808,000 r XX 804,000 XX

TABLE 5

PRODUCTION AND SHIPMENTS OF SECONDARY ALUMINUM ALLOYS BY INDEPENDENT SMELTERS

(Metric tons)

IN THE UNITED STATES1

2001 2002

4

No allowance made for melt-loss of primary aluminum and alloying ingredients.

3

Includes other die-cast alloys.

2

Includes inventory adjustment.

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

r

Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Miscellaneous, other." XX Not applicable.

Quantity Quantity

(thousand Percentage (thousand Percentage

Industry metric tons) of grand total metric tons) of grand total

Containers and packaging 2,250 22.0 2,260 21.1

Building and construction 1,500 14.6 1,560 14.6

Transportation 3,190 31.2 3,410 31.8

Electrical 686 6.7 677 6.3

Consumer durables 681 6.7 722 6.8

Machinery and equipment 641 6.3 616 5.8

Other markets 367 3.6 390 3.6

Total to domestic users 9,310 91.2 9,640 90.0

Exportse 902 8.8 1,070 10.0

Grand total 10,200 100.0 10,700 100.0

TABLE 6

DISTRIBUTION OF END-USE SHIPMENTS OF ALUMINUM PRODUCTS

IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, BY INDUSTRY1, 2

2001 2002

Source: The Aluminum Association Inc.

2

Data series revised to include shipments in both the United States and Canada.

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

e

Estimated.
5.14 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2002

2000 2001 2002

Wrought products:

Sheet, plate, foil 4,840 4,380 r 4,510

Pipe, tube, extruded shapes 1,640 1,460 r 1,450

Rod, bar, wire, cable 592 r 354 r 369

Forgings (including impacts) 106 87 r 89

Powder, flake, paste 59 56 56

Total 7,240 r 6,330 r 6,470

Castings:

Sand 152 r 124 NA 

Permanent and semipermanent mold 549 r 489 NA 

Die 991 r 871 NA 

Other 156 r 167 NA 

Total 1,850 r 1,650 NA 

Grand total 9,080 r 7,980 NA 

TABLE 7

U.S. NET SHIPMENTS OF ALUMINUM WROUGHT AND CAST PRODUCTS,

(Thousand metric tons)

BY PRODUCERS1, 2

Sources: The Aluminum Association Inc. and U.S. Department of Commerce.

2

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

shape from the domestic industry's gross shipments of that shape.

1

Net shipments derived by subtracting the sum of producers' domestic receipts of each mill

r

Revised. NA Not available.
ALUMINUM—2002 5.15

Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value

Country or territory (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)

2001:

Brazil 530 $914 42,000 $125,000 12 $10 42,600 $126,000

Canada 87,000 134,000 459,000 1,170,000 215,000 206,000 761,000 1,510,000

China 270 1,370 33,300 88,000 177,000 156,000 210,000 246,000

France 161 454 7,130 35,000 -- -- 7,290 35,500

Germany 987 9,800 2,530 17,900 1,740 7,490 5,250 35,200

Hong Kong 1,510 2,580 2,020 14,400 11,400 16,300 14,900 33,300

Italy 29 117 2,120 13,800 258 189 2,410 14,100

Japan 8,580 19,200 9,420 85,800 23,700 26,400 41,700 131,000

Korea, Republic of 1,880 4,170 13,500 59,300 50,600 54,500 66,000 118,000

Mexico 85,700 131,000 131,000 416,000 52,100 64,000 269,000 610,000

Netherlands 83 471 2,190 10,700 161 199 2,430 11,400

Philippines 51 160 764 3,240 -- -- 815 3,400

Russia 9 106 578 2,480 -- -- 588 2,590

Saudi Arabia 107 225 9,320 24,300 19 4 9,450 24,600

Singapore 40 176 2,930 12,600 122 269 3,090 13,100

South Africa 4 13 169 1,090 13 150 187 1,250

Taiwan 335 927 5,200 21,700 28,500 29,100 34,000 51,700

Thailand 1,250 1,840 11,000 28,800 1,250 1,900 13,500 32,600

United Kingdom 726 4,590 15,200 96,000 2,950 4,490 18,900 105,000

Venezuela 21 82 12,600 31,900 107 511 12,700 32,500

Other

r 2,610 8,090 51,700 219,000 15,500 19,900 69,800 247,000

Total 192,000 320,000 814,000 2,480,000 580,000 588,000 1,590,000 3,390,000

2002:

Brazil 116 328 29,300 79,700 18 18 29,500 80,000

Canada 97,800 158,000 471,000 1,180,000 202,000 193,000 771,000 1,530,000

China 114 551 32,300 75,100 206,000 170,000 238,000 245,000

France 113 272 5,120 30,400 8 110 5,240 30,700

Germany 1,410 9,440 2,810 23,300 264 965 4,480 33,700

Hong Kong 162 1,200 4,060 13,600 8,190 10,500 12,400 25,400

Italy 14 90 1,960 9,600 39 55 2,010 9,740

Japan 3,350 10,100 9,060 64,000 27,100 31,100 39,600 105,000

Korea, Republic of 725 1,970 7,540 35,100 43,900 48,200 52,200 85,300

Mexico 98,800 143,000 114,000 367,000 85,300 107,000 299,000 617,000

Netherlands 129 791 800 4,930 314 961 1,240 6,680

Philippines 1 15 560 2,510 -- -- 560 2,520

Russia 19 53 30 387 9 5 58 445

Saudi Arabia (3) 4 14,500 32,800 -- -- 14,500 32,800

Singapore 239 897 2,040 9,630 194 236 2,470 10,800

South Africa 61 282 142 810 -- -- 204 1,090

Taiwan 233 1,280 6,430 17,200 27,200 28,300 33,800 46,700

Thailand 1 34 8,940 23,800 831 680 9,780 24,600

United Kingdom 647 3,110 8,890 64,800 661 941 10,200 68,800

Venezuela 6 54 7,900 19,700 1 6 7,900 19,800

Other 1,630 5,920 38,800 161,000 11,600 11,500 52,000 178,000

Total 206,000 337,000 766,000 2,220,000 613,000 603,000 1,590,000 3,160,000

TABLE 8

U.S. EXPORTS OF ALUMINUM, BY COUNTRY1

Metals and alloys, crude Plates, sheets, bars, etc.2 Scrap Total

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

r

Revised. -- Zero.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

3

Less than 1/2 unit.

2

Includes castings, forgings, and unclassified semifabricated forms.
5.16 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2002

Quantity Value Quantity Value

Class (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)

Crude and semicrude:

Metals and alloys, crude 192,000 $320,000 206,000 $337,000

Scrap 580,000 588,000 613,000 603,000

Plates, sheets, bars, strip, etc. 751,000 2,120,000 706,000 1,880,000

Castings and forgings 18,100 149,000 19,200 132,000

Semifabricated forms, n.e.c. 44,500 215,000 41,500 205,000

Total 1,590,000 3,390,000 1,590,000 3,160,000

Manufactures:

Foil and leaf 59,200 225,000 60,800 213,000

Powders and flakes 8,660 40,100 8,850 40,100

Wire and cable 28,300 84,100 30,800 76,700

Total 96,200 349,000 100,000 330,000

Grand total 1,680,000 3,740,000 1,690,000 3,490,000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

TABLE 9

U.S. EXPORTS OF ALUMINUM, BY CLASS1

2001 2002

Quantity Value Quantity Value

Class (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)

Crude and semicrude:

Metals and alloys, crude 2,560,000 $3,930,000 2,790,000 $4,040,000

Plates, sheets, strip, etc., n.e.c.2 553,000 1,320,000 630,000 1,410,000

Pipes, tubes, etc. 16,400 90,400 17,000 94,900

Rods and bars 114,000 352,000 149,000 417,000

Scrap 497,000 552,000 466,000 502,000

Total 3,740,000 6,250,000 4,060,000 6,460,000

Manufactures:

Foil and leaf3 86,600 306,000 105,000 337,000

Powders and flakes 5,360 16,300 3,570 14,200

Wire 91,700 162,000 118,000 190,000

Total 184,000 484,000 227,000 541,000

Grand total 3,920,000 6,740,000 4,280,000 7,000,000

TABLE 10

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF ALUMINUM, BY CLASS1

2001 2002

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

3

Excludes etched capacitor foil.

2

Includes plates, sheets, circles, and disks.
ALUMINUM—2002 5.17

Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value

Country (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)

2001:

Argentina 53,800 $88,000 105 $216 2,840 $3,910 56,700 $92,100

Australia 121,000 188,000 125 549 18 12 121,000 189,000

Bahrain 8,210 13,200 16,100 32,600 -- -- 24,300 45,800

Belgium 60 279 3,210 10,100 37 52 3,310 10,400

Brazil 35,000 55,500 4,360 8,810 20,900 29,700 60,200 94,000

Canada 1,670,000 2,590,000 405,000 928,000 283,000 315,000 2,360,000 3,830,000

China 1,620 2,760 6,870 20,500 447 776 8,940 24,000

France 691 4,810 5,250 23,000 7,840 6,810 13,800 34,600

Germany 677 4,300 50,300 189,000 7,140 7,490 58,200 200,000

Italy (3) 8 2,730 11,000 62 61 2,790 11,100

Japan 501 1,020 11,100 47,400 386 693 12,000 49,100

Korea, Republic of 766 1,380 6,810 20,600 59 142 7,630 22,100

Mexico 3,930 6,190 16,500 67,000 67,000 70,100 87,400 143,000

Netherlands 644 1,940 2,490 7,420 2,710 4,620 5,840 14,000

Norway 7,850 13,300 1,160 1,910 1,680 2,970 10,700 18,200

Panama -- -- 972 3,040 5,820 6,070 6,790 9,110

Russia 377,000 533,000 37,700 81,300 39,700 45,200 454,000 660,000

Slovenia -- -- 3,350 10,600 -- -- 3,350 10,600

South Africa 19,400 27,700 26,300 62,800 31 42 45,800 90,500

Spain 802 1,130 71 867 37 26 910 2,030

Ukraine 11,000 19,300 1 4 840 970 11,800 20,300

United Arab Emirates 62,500 105,000 -- -- 3,140 3,470 65,600 109,000

United Kingdom 3,660 7,740 11,900 46,900 4,290 4,190 19,900 58,800

Venezuela 159,000 236,000 17,400 33,200 7,890 7,640 184,000 277,000

Other

r 23,200 33,400 52,900 161,000 41,900 41,900 118,000 236,000

Total 2,560,000 3,930,000 683,000 1,770,000 497,000 552,000 3,740,000 6,250,000

2002:

Argentina 82,300 118,000 773 1,290 479 579 83,500 120,000

Australia 95,500 139,000 108 785 125 130 95,700 140,000

Bahrain 18,200 26,500 19,100 36,800 -- -- 37,200 63,300

Belgium (3) 5 8,670 20,800 450 691 9,120 21,500

Brazil 41,000 61,600 2,910 5,390 14,800 19,400 58,700 86,300

Canada 1,580,000 2,320,000 453,000 997,000 293,000 312,000 2,330,000 3,630,000

China 562 1,130 16,500 45,800 1,220 820 18,300 47,800

France 1,160 5,900 6,280 23,400 3,520 3,100 11,000 32,400

Germany 2,360 8,260 61,000 205,000 4,970 4,830 68,300 218,000

Italy 80 122 2,520 9,820 42 45 2,640 9,980

Japan 548 1,150 9,150 39,800 249 769 9,950 41,700

Korea, Republic of 3,510 5,160 5,450 14,500 99 135 9,060 19,800

Mexico 4,690 8,670 15,100 63,600 62,000 61,300 81,800 134,000

Netherlands 440 1,460 2,710 8,310 1,570 2,080 4,730 11,900

Norway 3,810 6,170 125 433 -- -- 3,930 6,600

Panama -- -- 801 2,560 3,710 3,670 4,510 6,230

Russia 634,000 863,000 60,800 110,000 25,400 33,600 720,000 1,010,000

Slovenia 1 16 3,390 8,860 -- -- 3,390 8,870

South Africa 15,900 21,300 31,900 72,300 8 4 47,800 93,600

Spain 624 1,450 244 1,300 -- -- 868 2,750

Ukraine -- -- 20 30 -- -- 20 30

United Arab Emirates 61,200 95,400 -- -- 777 841 61,900 96,300

United Kingdom 1,230 1,930 7,870 29,000 4,490 4,860 13,600 35,700

Venezuela 203,000 294,000 21,800 36,000 7,330 6,580 232,000 337,000

Other 39,800 56,900 66,100 186,000 41,800 46,300 148,000 289,000

Total 2,790,000 4,040,000 797,000 1,920,000 466,000 502,000 4,060,000 6,460,000

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

r

Revised. -- Zero.

TABLE 11

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF ALUMINUM, BY COUNTRY1

Metals and alloys, crude Plates, sheets, bars, etc.2 Scrap Total

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

3

Less than 1/2 unit.

2

Includes circles, disks, rods, pipes, tubes, etc.
5.18 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2002

Country 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002e

Argentina 187 206 262 245 r, e 250

Australia 1,627 1,718 1,769 1,798 1,836 3

Bahrain 501 503 509 522 r 517

Bosnia and Herzegovinae, 4 28 70 95 r 96 r 104

Brazil 1,208 1,250 1,271 1,131 1,318 3

Cameroon 82 e 90 r 96 r 81 80

Canada 2,374 2,390 2,373 2,583 2,709 3

Chinae 2,340 2,530 2,800 3,250 4,300

Croatia4 16 14 14 15 e 15

Egypt 195 193 193 e 189 r, e 190

France 424 455 441 462 450

Germany 612 634 644 652 650

Ghana 56 104 156 162 132

Greece 146 170 168 163 e 165

Hungary 35 34 34 r 35 e 35

Iceland5 173 220 r 224 r 243 264

India6 542 614 644 624 r 650

Indonesiae, 6 133 106 160 180 160

Iran 124 137 140 e 140 e 130

Italy 187 187 189 187 180

Japan7 16 11 7 7 e 7

Mexico6 62 63 61 r 52 r 60

Mozambique -- -- 54 266 273 3

Netherlands 264 e 286 302 294 300

New Zealand 318 327 328 322 335

Nigeriae 20 16 -- -- --

Norway 996 1,020 1,026 1,068 1,096 3

Poland8 54 51 47 45 r 50

Romania9 174 174 179 182 r 180

Russia 3,005 3,146 3,245 3,300 e 3,347 3

Serbia and Montenegro4 60 73 88 100 r 104 3

Slovakia6 108 109 110 110 e 112

Slovenia4 74 77 100 100 e 88

South Africa 677 689 673 r 662 r 676 3

Spain 362 364 366 376 380

Surinamee 29 3 6 -- -- --

Sweden 96 99 101 102 101

Switzerland 32 34 35 e 35 e 36

Tajikistan 196 229 300 289 r 308

Turkeye 62 62 61 r 61 r 62

Ukraine9 107 115 119 106 r 112

United Arab Emirates, Dubaie 352 3 440 470 500 536

United Kingdom 258 272 305 341 340

United States 3,713 3,779 3,668 2,637 2,707 3

Venezuela 585 570 569 571 r, e 570

Total 22,600 23,600 24,400 24,300 r 25,900

2

Primary aluminum is defined as "The weight of liquid aluminum as tapped from pots, excluding the weight of any alloying

1

World totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

e

Estimated. rRevised. -- Zero.

TABLE 12

ALUMINUM, PRIMARY: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY1, 2

(Thousand metric tons)

9

Primary unalloyed metal plus primary alloyed metal, thus including weight of alloying material.

8

Primary unalloyed ingot plus secondary unalloyed ingot.

2000--40,956; 2001---26,586; and 2002--25,000 (estimated).

definitions. For those countries for which a different definition is given specifically in the source publication, that

practices vary from country to country, some nations conforming to the foregoing definition and others using different

materials as well as that of any metal produced from either returned scrap or remelted materials." International reporting

7

Excludes high-purity aluminum containing 99.995% or more as follows, in metric tons: 1998--35,063; 1999--34,893;

6

Primary ingot.

5

Ingot and rolling billet production.

4

Primary ingot plus secondary ingot.

3

Reported figure.

definition is provided in this table by footnote. Table includes data available through May 9, 2003.