ALUMINUM—2001 6.1 

# A LUMINUM

By Patricia A. Plunkert

Domestic survey data and tables were prepa red by Micheal George, statistical assist ant, and the world production table was prepared by Linder Roberts, in ternational data coordinator.

In 2001, 11 domestic companies operated 23 primary aluminum reduction plants in 14 States that produced more than 2.6 million metric tons (Mt) of metal. Montana, Oregon, and Washington accounted for 6% of the production; Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia, 32%; and other States, 62%. The value of production was estimated to be $4 billion.

Increased energy costs, particul arly in the Pacific Northwest, and low metal prices led several aluminum smelters to continue to reduce production capacity during the year. By midyear, more than 1.6 million metric tons per year (Mt/yr) of primary smelter capacity was closed, a significant increase from the 729,000 metric tons per year (t/yr) of capacity that had been closed at yearend 2000. Only 25,000 t/yr of the 1.64 Mt/yr of engineered capacity for the 10 sm elters in the region remained

open.

Aluminum recovered from purchased scrap decreased by 14% to 2.98 Mt. Of this recovered metal, 60% came from new (manufacturing) scrap, and 40%, from old (discarded aluminum products) scrap. Aluminum used beverage cans (UBCs) accounted for more than one-half of the reported old scrap consumption in 2001. The recycling rate for aluminum UBCs decreased to 55.4%, compared with 62.1% in 2000.

The transportation and the container and packaging industries remained the largest domestic markets for aluminum products in 2001. The transportation industry accounted for 35% of domestic consumption; containers and packaging, 25%; building and construction, 15%; consumer durables, 8%; electrical, 7%; and other uses, 10%.

U.S. imports for consumption decreased in 2001 compared with those of 2000. Canada remained the largest shipper of aluminum materials to the United States, followed by Russia. Total exports from the United States decreased 10% in 2001.

The price of primary ingot on the domestic and the international markets fluctuated during the year but had a general downward trend. The 2001 monthly average domestic spot price decreased by about 11 cents per pound from January to December. The annual averag e decreased by almost 6 cents per pound compared with that of 2000.

At the end of 2001, world inventories, as reported by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), decreased slightly compared with those of 2000. Inventories of primary metal held by the London Metal Exchange Ltd. (LME), however, increased dramatically.

Primary aluminum was produced in 43 countries in 2001. Russia and China surpassed the United States as the world’s largest producers, Russia with 14% of the world total, followed by China with 13%. The United States and Canada each accounted for about 11% of the total world production. Despite a more than 1 Mt decline in U.S. output, world primary metal production was relatively unchanged compared with that of
2000. Production

Primary .—Domestic primary aluminum production, which totaled a reported 2,636,954 metric tons (t), decreased by 28% compared with that of 2000 (table 1). Production data were obtained from the 11 domestic producers, all of whom responded to the request from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for data.

Increased energy costs, low demand, and falling prices led smelters in the Pacific Northwest to continue the cutbacks in production that were begun last year. By midyear, more than 1.6 Mt/yr of capacity in Montana, Oregon, and Washington was closed. All but 25,000 t/yr of capacity at the Goldendale, WA, smelter was closed in the region. Most of the smelters outside of this region were operated at or near their rated or engineered capacity.

Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. closed the remaining two and one-half potlines (84,000 t/yr) at its 168,000-t/yr Columbia Falls, MT, smelter, effective the end of January. The smelter remained closed for the rest of the year (Metal Bulletin, 2001f). There were several more closures announced in January. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. closed the remaining 90,000 t/yr of capacity at its 200,000-t/yr Mead (Spokane), WA, smelter (CRU Aluminium Monitor, 2001a). Alcoa Inc. announced the closure of 80,000 t/yr of capacity at its Wenatchee, WA, smelter (Alcoa Inc., 2001a). Alcoa also announced the closure of 70,000 t/yr of capacity at its 278,000-t/yr Intalco smelter in Ferndale, WA (Mining Journal, 2001a). In March, Alcoa announced an additional 70,000 t/yr closure at Ferndale (Alcoa Inc., 2001l), and in May, the remainder of smelter was closed (Alcoa Inc., 2001j). On February 27, Alcoa and Michigan Avenue Partners (MAP) announced that the sale of the Longview, WA, aluminum smelter to MAP had been completed (Alcoa Inc., 2001e). On February 28, MAP announced the immediate temporary closure of the 204,000-t/yr smelter (Platts Metals Week, 2001i).

In June, Alcoa and the Chelan Public Utility District (PUD) announced an agreement that the companies hoped would secure future long-term power needs. Alcoa would idle its Wenatchee smelter for approximate 15 months beginning July 1 and return the unused power to PUD. PUD would use the revenue generated from the sale of this returned power to acquire additional power sources for the future (Alcoa Inc., 2001d).

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which supplied most of the power to the Pacific Northwest smelters, sought power obligation cuts from the region’s aluminum companies of 1,100 megawatts (MW) of capacity. As compensation for curtailing production, BPA paid the companies an average of $20 per megawatt hour of unused power (Platts Metals Week, 2001d).

Alcoa Generating Corp., a subs idiary of Alcoa, assumedU.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2001 6.2 operation of the 744-MW Warrick, IN, coal-fired powerplant from Southern Indiana Gas & Electric, which had been in charge of the facility for more than 40 years. The onsite powerplant supplied electricityto Alcoa’s smelting and fabricating facilities at Warrick (Platts Metals Week, 2001c).

In April, Alcoa began restarting a potline that had been idled since 1992 at its Warrick smelter that would have brought the smelter to its full operating capacity of 309,000 t/yr (Platts Metals Week, 2001p). However, on December 5, Alcoa announced that four of the six po tlines at its Warrick plant were forced to shut down owing to power failures at the onsite generating station. Work began immediately to bring the affected potlines back online (Alcoa Inc., 2001n).

Century Aluminum Co. completed the acquisition of the 237,000-t/yr NSA primary aluminum smelter at Hawesville, KY, from Southwire Co. and assumed operating and management control of the facility. Century holds an 80% share of the plant and Glencore AG, the remaining 20%. Southwire continued to operate an adj acent mill that produced aluminum rod and cable. Century entered into a long-term agreement to supply molten aluminum metal to the Southwire mill (Century Aluminum Co., 2001).

Alcoa signed a new 5-year labor agreement with the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) . The new contract, which replaced the previous master c ontract that was scheduled to expire on May 31, 2002, was retroactive to June 1, 2001, and will run through May 31, 2006. It covers 12,000 employees at 19 U.S. facilities (A lcoa Inc., 2001f).

On April 6, Ormet Corp. announced the ratification of a new contract at the Hannibal, OH, rolling mill by members of the USWA. The new contract included increases in wage and pension benefits over the next 4 years along with profit sharing and achievement bonus programs. The agreement expires August 31, 2004 (Ormet Corp., 2001a).

Alcoa announced a $90 million e xpansion plan for its sheet and plate facility in Davenport, IA. The plan would increase capacity for aerospace and too ling plate by 30% to meet growing worldwide aerospace de mand. The expansion (which included a new state-o f-the-art horizontal h eat-treat furnace and quench system, a new plate stretcher, and a new plate saw) was expected to be completed by the end of 2002 (Alcoa Inc., 2001h).

Alcoa also announced plans to close its Lebanon, PA, heavygauge aluminum foil rolling mill. The plant produced automotive and appliance fin stock, brazing sheet, and formed container stock (American Metal Market, 2001a).

Ormet announced plans to temporarily curtail production at its Jackson, TN, foil mill. Foil production decreased from a range of 1,100 to 1,400 metric tons per month (t/mo) (2.5 to 3 million pounds per month) to approximately 360 t/mo (800,000 pounds per month) for consumption within the company (Ormet Corp., 2001b).

McCook Metals LLC, an aluminum sheet and plate producer affiliated with MAP, filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. MAP purchased the 250,000-t/yr Chicago, IL, rolling mill from Reynolds Metals Co. in June 1998. Scottsboro Aluminum LLC, another MAP affiliate, was forced into involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Scottsboro Aluminum operated a 140,000-t/yr (300- million-pound-per-year) rolling mill in northern Alabama (Platts Metals Week, 2001b).

Ohio Valley Aluminum Co. acquired Alumnitec Inc.’s Jeffersonville, IN, extrusion plant. The plant had three extrusion presses—a 1,350-t 6-inch press, a 1,650-t 7-inch press, and a 2,500-t 9-inch press—as well as a paint line (Platts Metals Week, 2001m).

VAW AG announced plans to increase capacity at its extrusion plants in Arizona, Florida, and New York by 25%. VAW planned to add a fifth extr usion press at each of these locations whose total capacity prior to the expansions was more than 54,000 t/yr (120 million pounds per year) (Metal Bulletin, 2001p).

However, aluminum extruder Albex Aluminum Inc. announced that it was shutting down permanently. Albex had provided extrusions to truck trailer manufacturers (Worden, 2001d). Also, William L Bonnell Company, Inc., announced the closure of its El Campo, TX, aluminum extrusion plant. The plant, which Bonnell purchased from Reynolds in 1997, had four extrusion presses and two casting furnaces, as well as fabricated parts production facilities (Platts Metals Week, 2001e).

Alcoa sold its Thiokol Propulsion business to Alliant Techsystems Inc. (Alcoa Inc., 2001g). Thiokol, a supplier of rocket propulsion systems for space launch vehicles, became part of Alcoa with the acquisition of Cordant Technologies in May 2000 (Alcoa Inc., 2001m).

Alcoa and BHP Billiton merged their North American metal distribution services. The deal included Alcoa’s Richmond, VA-based Reynolds Aluminum Supply Company (RASCO) and Billiton’s U.S.-based Vincent Metal Goods and Canada-based Atlas Ideal Metals. The new 50-50 joint venture company, Integris Metals, will have more than 60 locations in 32 States and throughout Canada (Alcoa Inc., 2001b).

Secondary. —Metal recovered from new and old scrap decreased to 2.98 Mt in 2001 (table 3), according to data derived by the USGS from its “Aluminum Scrap” survey. Of the 76 companies and/or plants to which monthly or annual survey requests were sent, 49 responded, which represented 77% 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, 55.6 billion aluminum UBCs were recycled in the United States in 2001, for a beverage can recycling rate of 55.4%. For 20 out of the past 21 years, the rate has exceeded 50% (Aluminum Association Inc., 2002a).

In response to increased energy costs, lower demand, and excess supply, several secondary aluminum companies announced closures during the year. Delta Group closed its 3,200-t/mo (7-million-pound-per-month) Muskegon, WI, smelter (Platts Metals Week, 2001l).

Wabash Alloys LLC announced several plant closures andconsolidations during the year. The 3,200-t/mo (7-millionpound-per-month) secondary alloy plant in Checotah, OK, wasclosed at the end of February, and production was cut by onehalf at the 5,670-t/mo (12.5-million-pound-per-month) Guelph, Ontario, plant. The Russelville, AL, alloy plant with an annual capacity of approximately 32, 000 t (70 million pounds) of A380 alloy, was closed in April and wa s expected to remain closed for about 2 years. The Oak Creek alloy plant near Milwaukee, WI, which had a rated capacity of about 5,000 t/mo (11 million pounds per month) of secondary aluminum alloys, was also closed in April. One of two furnaces at the company’s Cleveland facility was taken down, decreasing alloy production capacity by about 2,200 t/mo (5 million pounds per month) (Platts Metals Week, 2001n). Wabash also announced plans toALUMINUM—2001 6.3 close its Bellwood, VA, deoxidized aluminum plant and the aluminum foundry and diecasting plant in Syracuse, NY, in 2002. The Bellwood plant had a nameplate capacity of 6,400 t/mo (14 million pounds per month) of aluminum deox, nearly one-half of the total U.S. capacity (Worden, 2001f). The 6,400- t/mo (14- million-pound-per-month) Syracuse plant could be reopened if warranted by future demand (Platts Metals Week, 2001o).

West Coast secondary smelters also faced difficult times during the year. Tri-Alloys In c., a specification alloy producer in Montclair, CA, operated just one of its two furnaces. A similar 50% capacity reduction reportedly was in effect at Vista Metals Corp.’s Fontana, CA, f acility. Two of the three furnaces at Timco/Tandem Co., also in F ontana, CA, were idled. At another smelter, Liston Aluminum Co. in Corona, CA, alloy production had been halted and toll conversion of UBCs substituted (Worden, 2001e). By the end of the year, Liston had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from its creditors (Worden, 2001b).

Indalex Aluminum Solutions Group announced the permanent closure of its 102,000-t/yr (225-million-pound-per-year) secondary aluminum billet casting facility in Ahoskie, NC. The plant remelted scrap aluminum, mostly painted aluminum extrusion scrap, and cast it into secondary billet for use by extruders. Indalex also announced a postponement in the construction of a new casting facility in Toronto, Canada, and a delay in the reopening of its Rockwell, TX, cast house. The company cited a slowdown in demand as part of the reason for its decisions (Platts Metals Week, 2001g).

Minerva Aluminum Co. Inc. (Minalco), however, increased capacity at its Minerva, OH, speci fication aluminum alloy plant. The installation of two additiona l furnaces increased capacity to 76,200 t/yr (168 million pounds per year) of product, mostly 356 alloys (Worden, 2001c).

Norsk Hydro ASA changed the name of its North American operations to Hydro Aluminum Products-North America (Hamp-N.A.). Hamp-N.A. included the newly completed remelt plant in Henderson, KY, a light metals research and development facility in Michigan, Wells Aluminum (acquired in 1999), and the recent investment in a new aluminum casthouse in Venezuela (American Metal Market, 2001g). In September, Hamp-N.A. announced plans to build a second remelt plant in Commerce, TX. The new 90,000-t/yr plant would use the same technology as the Henderson f acility (Metal Bulletin, 2001j). Wise Alloys LLC announced the planned closure of its Sheffield, AL, plant, which primarily applied coating to can stock and food contai ners. All coating will be done at the company’s Lister Hill plant in Muscle Shoals, AL, which is undergoing a $30 million modernizati on. The Lister hill rolling mill produces about 450,000 t/yr (1 billion pounds per year) of aluminum can sheet from UBCs (Platts Metals Week, 2001q). In November, an 80% interest in Wise Alloys was purchased by D’Addario Industries (Worden, 2001a).

Consumption

In 2001, the transportation industry accounted for slightly more that 3 Mt of total U.S. shipments of aluminum products (table 6). Shipments to the container and packaging industry, which was the second largest domestic end-use market, was 2.2 Mt. Total shipments of aluminum products to domestic users in 2001 decreased 12% compared with that of 2000. Automotive applications for aluminum increased by 4.5 to 5.4 kilograms (kg) (10 to 12 pounds) per vehicle. The average new family vehicle contained about 116 kg (256 pounds) of finished aluminum components. Casting alloys, such as A319, A380, and A356, dominated the gains inunit content because most of the automakers’ new and expandi ng applications involved parts in the engines, drivelines, and suspension systems that are best served by castings (Wrigley, 2001c).

Despite this increase in per unit content of aluminum, several suppliers to the automotive industry were forced to close their operations. Hayes Lemmerz Inte rnational Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aluminum and steel automotive wheels, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Hayes said that it could be forced to close mo re plants than the two that had been announced—Petersburg, MI, and Bowling Green, KY. Twenty-two U.S. plants and one facility in Mexico were part of the bankruptcy filling. The company has 46 plants and half a dozen joint ventures globally, but facilities outside of North America were not included inthe petition (Wrigley, 2001a).

American Racing Equipment (ARE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Noranda Inc., closed its Warsaw, KY, manufacturing facility and transf erred the plant’s production to other facilities within the company. Noranda cited the weak economic conditions and excess wheel industry capacity as reasons for its decision. ARE’s other facilities are in Rancho Dominguez, CA, Gardena, CA, and Querétaro, Mexico (Noranda Inc., 2001b).

Intermet Corp. announced the closure of Alexander City Casting Co. The Alabama facility produced automotive components by lost foam casting for Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., and Daimler Chrysler AG (Wrigley, 2001b).

The slowdown in the U.S. economy also affected the beverage can industry. Rexam PLC, which entered the U.S. beverage can market following its acquisition of American National Can in the summer of 2000, closed its Houston, TX, (Rexam PLC, 2001a) and Brunswick, NJ, beverage can manufacturing plants. According to the company, the closures were designed to balance capacity and demand in the U.S. beverage can market (Rexam PLC, 2001b).

Ball Corp. announced plans to close its aluminum beverage can manufacturing plant in Moultrie, GA. The 20-year-old plant had two production lines capable of producing about 1 billion cans per year (Ball Corp., 2001a).

Coors Brewing Company and Ball Corp. signed an agreement for the manufacture and supply of approximately 4.5 billion aluminum beverage cans and ends used by Coors annually. The new 50-50 joint venture, Rocky Mountain Metal Container, LLC, will operate Coors existing can and end facilities in Golden, CO (Ball Corp., 2001b).

The transportation and packag ing industries account for about one-half of the world’s aluminum consumption, whereas about 20% of production goes into the building and construction sector, principally as sheet and extrusions. Aluminum consumption has grown significantly over the past 50 years and has been fueled in part by growth in the building and construction industry. In Europe alone, consumption of aluminum for construction has risen from over 100,000 t/yr in 1960 to more than 1.5 Mt/yr in 2000. Exterior building applications include curtain walling, window frames, exterior cladding (siding) and roofing, greenhouses and conservatories, scaffolding and ladders, and more recently the supporting frames for solar panels. Interior uses include partitions, castU.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2001 6.4 door handles, staircases, and heating and air-conditioning systems (Metal Bulletin Monthly, 2001b).

Stocks

Domestic inventories of aluminum ingot, mill products, and scrap held by U.S. producers decreased to 1.30 Mt at yearend 2001 from 1.55 Mt at yearend 2000 (Aluminum Association Inc., 2002b). The LME reported, however, that primary aluminum metal ingot at its U.S. warehouses increased dramatically to 28,500 t at yearend 2001 from a mere 125 t at yearend 2000. The LME also reported that at yearend 2001 its U.S. warehouses still did not hold any stocks of aluminum alloy ingot (London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2001).

Prices

The monthly average U.S. mark et price of primary aluminum metal, as reported by Platts Metals Week, fluctuated throughout the year but had a general downward trend. The monthly average price began the year at 75.2 cents per pound and, by December, had fallen to 64.1 cents per pound. The average price for the year decreased from 74.6 cents per pound in 2000 to 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 Commodity Exchange (COMEX) followed the same general downward trend as the U.S. market price. The 2001 average annual LME cash price was 65.5 cents per pound. The COMEX monthly average spot settlement price declined from 74.8 cents per pound in January to 64.3 cents per pound in December.

Purchase prices for aluminum scrap, as quoted by American Metal Market, also fluctuated during the year. The yearend price ranges for selected types of aluminum scrap were as follows: mixed low-copper-content aluminum clips, 44 to 45 cents per pound; old sheet and cast aluminum, 41 to 42 cents per pound; and clean, dry aluminum turnings, 40.5 to 41.5 cents per pound.

Aluminum producers’ buying price range for processed and delivered UBCs, as quoted by American Metal Market, closed lower at yearend. The price range began the year at 53 to 54 cents per pound and closed the year at 44 to 45 cents per pound. Resource Recycling published a monthly transaction price for aluminum UBCs in its Container Recycling Report. During the year, the monthly average d ecreased significantly from 56.6 cents per pound in January to 46.3 cents per pound in December. The annual average price for aluminum UBCs decreased from 57.7 cents per pound in 2000 to 50.2 cents per pound in 2001.

The yearend indicator prices for selected secondary aluminum ingots, as published in American Metal Market, also decreased compared with those at the end of 2000. The closing prices for 2001 were as follows: alloy B380 (1% zinc content), 68.2 cents per pound; alloy A360 (0.6% copper content), 71 cents per pound; alloy A413 (0.6% copper content), 70.9 cents per pound; and alloy 319, 70 cents per pound. Platts Metals Week published an annual average U.S. price of 63.5 cents per pound for A380 alloy (3% zinc content). The average annual LME cash price for a similar A380 alloy was 53.2 cents per pound. Trade

Total exports of aluminum materials from the United States decreased 10% in 2001 compared with those of 2000 (table 8). Exports of crude metals and alloys and semifabricated material decreased but exports of scrap increased slightly compared with those of 2000 (table 9). About two-thirds of total U.S. exports were accounted for by Canada and Mexico.

For the second consecutive year, imports for consumption decreased compared with those of the previous year (table 10). Canada remained the major source country by supplying almost two-thirds of the total imports in 2001 (table 11). Russia continued to be the second largest supplier of aluminum materials.

World Review

Despite the temporary closure of production capacity in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, world production of primary aluminum metal remained relatively stable in 2001 compared with that of 2000 (table 12). Production losses in the United States were offset by increased production in other areas of the world, most notably Canada, China, and Mozambique where new production capacity continued to be brought

onstream.

Unwrought aluminum inventories held by members of the IAI decreased slightly to 1.74 Mt at yearend 2001 from 1.79 Mt at yearend 2000. Unwrought aluminum is defined by the IAI as aluminum in its basic cast form made from primary metal or from scrap and which is unworked in the metallurgical sense. IAI total aluminum inventories decreased to 3.02 Mt at yearend 2001 from 3.09 Mt at yearend 2000. Total aluminum is unwrought aluminum plus unprocessed scrap, metal in process, and finished semifabricated (mill) products (International Aluminium Institute, 2002).

Yearend 2001 inventories of primary aluminum metal held by the LME increased dramatically to 821,000 t from 322,000 t at yearend 2000. Aluminum alloy inventories increased also to 121,000 t at yearend 2001 from 88,000 t at yearend 2000 (London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2001).

Industry merger .—On June 29, BHP Limited (BHP) and Billiton Plc (Billiton) announced th e completion of their merger to form a diversified resources group to be known as BHP Billiton. BHP Billiton has groupe d its major operating assets into the following “Customer Sector Groups” (CSG): Aluminium, Base Metals, Carbon Steel Materials, Stainless Steel Materials, Thermal (Steaming) Coal, Petroleum, and Steel (BHP Billiton, 2001a). The Aluminium CSG contains the aluminum assets formerly held by Billiton. The bauxite mining operations include a 14.8% shar e in Mineraçao Rio do Norte (MRN) in Brazil, a 76% share in Billiton Maatschappij Suriname (BMS) in Suriname, and an 86% interest in the Worsley bauxite mine in Australia. Alumina refining assets of BHP Billiton comprise a 36% interest in the Alumar refinery in Brazil, a 45% interest in the BMS refinery in Surname, and an 86% share in the Worsley refinery in Australia. Aluminum metal production assets include the wholly owned Bayside and Hillside smelters in South Africa, a 46% interest in both the Alumar and Valesul smelters in Brazil, and a 47.6% share in the Mozambique Aluminium Co. (Mozal) smelter in Mozambique. The attributable annual producti on capacity from these facilities was approximately 4 Mt of alumina and 1 Mt of aluminumALUMINUM—2001 6.5 (Billiton Plc, 2001, p. 21-22).

Armenia .—Russky Aluminy (Russian Aluminium (RusAl)) increased its equity in the Armenal foil mill in Yerevan from 44% to 74%. The remainder of the company is held by the employees (7%) and the Ministry of Industry (19%) (Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 2001b). Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau reportedly signed a contract with Armenal to upgrade six foil rolling mills at the plant. Upon completion of the upgrade, production was expected to triple (Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 2001c).

Australia .—Privately owned Aldoga Aluminium Pty. Ltd. announced a proposal to build a 500,000-t/yr smelter near Gladstone in Queensland. The $1.65 billion smelter was expected to use Alcoa technology. Aldoga reportedly had agreements in place with local generators to provide 850 MW of generating capacity for the project. Environmental impact studies as well as engineering and design work was expected to be completed in 2002 (Platts Metal Week, 2001j).

Comalco Limited has begun an environmental impact study on the possible expansion of its 450,000-t/yr Boyne Island smelter to 600,000 t/yr. If a decision is made to proceed with the expansion, the additional cap acity was not expected to come onstream until late in the d ecade (American Metal Market, 2001d).

VAW announced plans to spend about $50 million on improvements at its 150,000-t/yr Kurri Kurri smelter in New South Wales. The upgrade of the existing pots was expected to reduce costs and emissions and to raise product quality. VAW was also considering the addition of a fourth potline, which would increase annual capacity at the smelter by 100,000 t. The company stated that the decision to expand would be dependent on the availability of a long- term, competitive electric power supply (Metal Bulletin, 2001q).

Capral Aluminium Limited closed its Granville remelt facility in Sydney, which recycled aluminum scrap from the company’s extrusion plants throughout Australia. The scrap generated at these plants would be sold to other remelt operations (Metal Bulletin, 2001d).

Bahrain .—Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) will expand production at its 500,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter to 750,000 t/yr, making Alba one of the largest single-site smelters in the world. The $1.7 billion project includes the construction of a fifth potline, a new power station, a casthouse and carbon department, as well as fume treatment plants, raw material silos, a road network, and various utilities and services. Construction, which could begin in the first half of 2002, was expected to take 33 months to complete, with the first metal being produced after 28 months (Aluminium Bahrain, 2001).

Bosnia and Herzegovina .—In October, Aluminijj d.d. Mostar put into operation 10 fully upgraded electrolytic cells at its 92,000-t/yr smelter, marking the start of a modernization project that was scheduled for completion in 2002. All 256 cells at the smelter will be converted from side-worked cells to center-worked point feeder cells increasing capacity by 6,000 t/yr. Operating the cells at a higher amperage would increase capacity by an additional 16,000 t/yr, bringing the final smelter capacity to 114,000 t/yr upon completion of the project (Metal Bulletin Monthly, 2001a).

Brazil .—Drought conditions forced the Brazilian governmentto impose electricity rationing on the country’s high-energyconsuming industries, including the aluminum industry. Smelters in the southeast and northeast were subject to a 25% reduction in electricity consumption beginning June 1, while those in the north were subject to similar rationing on July 1. As a result, temporary curtailments in production were announced at aluminum smelters throughout the country (American Metal Market, 2001b).

Alcoa reduced production at its 90,000-t/yr Poços de Caldas smelter by 25%, or 22,500 t/yr, on June 1 and another 22,500 t/yr on September 4. Production at the 370,000-t/yr Alumar smelter in São Luis was cut by 63,000 t/yr on July 1 and an additional 29,500 t/yr on September 4 (Alcoa Inc., 2001i).

Alcan Inc. announced production cuts at its two smelters on June 1—7,900 t at its 51,000-t/yr Ouro Preto smelter and 8,100 t at its 58,000-t/yr smelter in Aratu (Metal Bulletin, 2001a).

Cia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) reported that production at its 240,000-t/yr smelter at Sao Paulo was reduced by 30,000 t/yr on June 1 (Platts Metals Week, 2001f).

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) reported that the company would reduce power usage at its 369,000-t/yr Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. (Albrás) smelter by 15.6% on July 1, resulting in a 31,000-t drop in production for the year (Platts Metals Week, 2001a). An additional reduction of 10,000 t, which took effect in August, reduced power consumption at the smelter by a total of 25% (Metal Bulletin, 2001c). CVRD also announced a 25% cut in production at its 94,000-t/yr Valesul smelter (CRU Aluminium Monitor, 2001b).

In December, CVRD inaugurated a 45,000-t/yr expansion at its Albrás smelter. Work on the $55 million expansion, which began early in 2001, was completed in October, but was not brought onstream because of the energy rationing policy. The expansion increased capacity at the plant to 406,000 t/yr making it the largest aluminum smelter in Brazil (American Metal Market, 2001c).

Canada .—Alcan launched festivities marking the 100th anniversary of the first aluminum casting in Canada by donating the buildings where the hist oric event took place to the Corporation de la Cité de l’Énergie, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the industrial history of the region. Aluminum was cast for the first time at Shawinigan, Québec, on October 22, 1901. The original facilities comprised an aluminum smelter and a cable mill (Alcan Inc., 2001e). On March 1, Alcan Aluminium Limited changed its legal company name to Alcan Inc. (Alcan Inc., 2001c).

Preliminary studies have begun on two new aluminum smelter projects. KAI Technology & Development (KTD) is finishing a pre-feasibility/feas ibility study for a 360,000-t/yr smelter in Port Alberni near Vancouver, British Columbia. The estimated capital cost was $1.5 billion, and the project reportedly would use KTD 160 thousand amp (kA) prebake technology (Regan, 2001a). Alcoa has signed a letter of intent with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador to conduct a feasibility study on the construction of a hydro-electric powerplant on the Churchill River and an aluminum smelter that would use a portion of the plant’s power (Regan, 2001b).

Because of low water levels in the Nechako reservoir and subsequent power shortages, Alcan reduced production at its 275,000-t/yr Kitimat, British Columbia, aluminum smelter by 50% over the course of the year (Alcan Inc. 2001b).

Alcan announced several closures and divestments as part of its restructuring plans. Alcan sold its Palco foil container plant in Madrid to Aliberico SA of Spain and 12 presses for smooth wall containers in Ohle, Germany to Alupak AG of Switzerland. These transactions were part of the divestment requirementsU.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2001 6.6 imposed by the European Commission as a condition to its approval of the merger between Alcan and Alusuisse Group Ltd. in October 2000 (Alcan Inc., 2001d).

In addition, Alcan’s foil fabrication plant in St. Laurent, Québec, was scheduled to close and transfer its operations to the company’s foil fabrication plant in Toronto. The food flexible packaging plant in Toronto would be consolidated with the Weston, Ontario, plant. The food flexible plant in Carson, CA, was scheduled for closure. Extrusion operations in Malaysia and Thailand were expected to be sold in 2002. Alcan signed letters of intent to sell its glass packaging operations in Park Hills, MO, and in Mays Landing, Williamstown, and Millville, NJ, as well as its 46%-owned joint venture in Beijing, China, to Stölzle Oberglas, an Austrianpackaging manufacturer. Alcan also agreed to sell its two Pharmatech rubber stopper and aluminum seals operation in Salisbury, MD, to Helvoet Pharma of Belgium (Alcan Inc., 2001a).

Chile .—Proyecto Alumysa Ltda., an affiliate of Noranda Inc., filed an Environmental Impact Study with the Environmental National Commission of Region XI, in southern Chile, for the construction of an aluminum smelter and its related hydroelectric facilities. The smelter was expected to have an annual capacity of 400,000 t (Noranda Inc., 2001a).

China .—Alcoa announced that it had finalized an agreement for a strategic alliance with Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco). Under the agreement, Alcoa and Chalco formed a 50-50 joint venture atChalco’s facilities in Pingguo and have agreed to increase cap acity at both the refinery and smelter. There were plans to expand the 135,000-t/yr smelter by 220,000 t/yr, which would bring total capacity at the smelter to 355,000 t/yr by 2006 (Alcoa Inc., 2001c).

The Qingtongxia Aluminium Smelter in Ningxia reported the completion of a 200 kA potline that more than doubled its annual capacity from 100,000 t to 240,000 t. Initial output at the plant increased to 140,000 t/yr. Production will be increased gradually to r each full capacity (Wong, 2001).

Lanzhou Aluminium Plant completed a 120,000-t/yr expansion project that increased capacity at its smelter in Gansu to 205,000 t/yr. Increased production will be phased in over 2002 (Platts Metals Week, 2001h).

Novar plc, the parent company of Indalex, acquired 25% of China Aluminum Group, Asia’s largest producer of aluminum extrusions. The acquisition reportedly strengthened Indalex’s manufacturing and marketing capabilities and broadened its range of specialty extrusion, fabrication, and finishing products. Company officials said that the combined companies would become the world’s second largest aluminum extruder (Indalex Aluminum Solutions Group, 2001).

France .—Pechiney was considering the possibility of building a new 450,000- to 500,000-t/yr smelter using its AP50 technology. Sites under consideration were Argentina, Australia, and South Africa, all of which had the potential to provide a cheap power source (Lauchlan, 2001). The AP50 technology is a higher amperage (500 kA per cell) development of the company’s AP30 technology (Mining Journal, 2001f). The projected aluminum production capacity of one AP50 potline is 460,000 t/yr (Lauchlan, 2001).

Iceland .—On June 11, production began at the 30,000-t/yr expansion of the Nordic Aluminum (Nordural) smelter in Grundartangi. The expansion increased production capacity at the smelter to 90,000 t/yr (Nordic Aluminum, 2001).

India .—The Government of India sold a 51% interest in Bharat Aluminum Co. (Balco) to Sterlite Industries. Balco’s Korba complex consists of a 100,000-t/yr aluminum smelter, a 200,000-t/yr alumina refinery, and a 40,000-t/yr rolling mill. Following the announcement of the sale, workers walked off the job at the Korba complex (Mining Journal, 2001d), and molten metal froze in all of the smelter’s 408 pots. Ten weeks later, workers returned to their jobs. However, full production was not restored at the smelter until December (Metal Bulletin, 2001e).

Hindalco Industries Limited commissioned the ninth potline at its 242,000-t/yr Renukoot smelter, adding 33,000 t/yr of capacity. Hindalco expected to complete the 100,000-t/yr expansion by the end of 2003, at which time the smelter’s total annual capacity would reach 342,000 t (Metal Bulletin, 2001g).

Indian Aluminum Co. Ltd. (Indal) announced that it would increase capacity at its Hirakud aluminum smelter to 60,000 t/yr by moving 200 pots from its Belgaum smelter in Karnataka, which was closed in 1995. Some 44 pots were moved from Belgaum to Hirakud in 1998 raising capacity from 25,000 t/yr to 31,000 t/yr (Mining Journal, 2001e).

Iran .—Almahdi Aluminum Corp.’s primary aluminum smelter at Bandar Abbas failed to reach its full production capability as originally expect ed (Plunkert, 2002, p. 6.7). Funding problems reportedly slowed progress at the 110,000- t/yr smelter (Mining Journal, 2001c).

Korea, Republic of .—Alcoa purchased Dooray Air Metals Co. Ltd.’s aluminum extrusion assets in Changwon. The Changwon facility produces hard alloy extrusions for the industrial, transportation, defens e, and aerospace industries. It is the only facility in Korea capable of producing aerospace hard alloy extrusion products (Alcoa Inc., 2001k).

Mexico .—IMCO Recycling Inc. formed a joint venture with Reciclaje y Maquila, S.A. de C.V. to recycle aluminum drosses and other scrap under a contract with Nemak, S.A. The facility, located next to Nemak’s cylinder head foundry in Monterrey, was expected to have an annua l capacity of 450,000 t (1 billion pounds) of aluminum and molten metal delivery capability. The joint venture is known as IMCO Reciclaje de Nuevo Leon S. de R.L. de C.V. (IMCO Recycling Inc., 2001).

Mozambique .—The joint owners of Mozal announced plans to expand their primary aluminum smelter near Maputo. The $860 million project (Mozal 2) will double capacity at the 253,000-t/yr smelter to 506,000 t/yr. Ownership of Mozal 2 has been aligned with that of Mozal 1 with BHP Billiton holding a 47.11% interest; Mitsubishi Corp. of Japan, 25%; Industrial Development Corp. of South Africa, 24.04%; and the Government of Mozambique, 3.85%. Construction began in June and commissioning of the additional potline was scheduled for late 2003, with full production expected 6 months later (BHP Billiton, 2001b).

Netherlands .—SNC-Lavalin signed a services agreement with Pechiney to provide project engineering and construction management services for the modernization of the Vlissingen primary aluminum smelter. Pechiney expected the modernization program, scheduled for completion in late 2003, to increase capacity at the 175,000-t/yr smelter by 25% (Mining Journal, 2001b).

New Zealand .—Drought conditions and rising electricity prices forced Comalco New Zealand to decrease production at its 330,000-t/yr Tiwai Point primary aluminum smelter by 5.7% resulting in an annual production loss of about 19,000 t (Metal Bulletin, 2001m, n).ALUMINUM—2001 6.7 Norway .—Elkem ASA approved the acquisition by Alcoa of additional shares in the comp any. The purchase increased Alcoa’s stake in Elkem to 39.5% (Metal Bulletin, 2001t).

Norsk Hydro started operating the new cold rolling and slitting system at its Holmestrand rolling mill. The new system produces thinner aluminum coil and will enable the company to supply the automotive heat transfer sector. Production capacity at Holmestrand, which uses secondary aluminum, increased from just over 70,000 t/yr to 90,000 t/yr (Metal Bulletin, 2001i).

Poland .—Austrian-based trading group Hovis GmbH bought the 50,000-t/yr Alumetal secondary aluminum smelter from Grupa Kety. The smelter produced casting alloys for the automotive industry and deox ingot for Polish steelmakers (Metal Bulletin, 2001h).

Russia .—As part of an ongoing modernization project, RusAL commissioned 64 new anodes at its 800,000-t/yrKrasnoyarsk smelter. This conversion of one-half of a bake insitu potline to new pre-bake technology increased high-grade aluminum production capacity at the smelter by 20,000 t/yr (Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 2001a).

JSC Volkov and JSC Pikalevo completed their merger and formed a new joint-stock company, JSC Metallurg. The merger of the 25,000-t/yr Volkov smelter and the 268,000-t/yr Pikalevo refinery was more of an internalcorporate restructuring than a joining of separate groups since both companies were owned by the same proprietors (Metal Bulletin, 2001s).

In July, SUAL Holding announced the acquisition of the 140,000-t/yr Volgograd smelter. Earlier in the year, SUAL acquired a 37% interest in the 68,000-t/yr Nadvoitsky smelter (American Metal Market, 2001i).

RusAl appointed SNC-Lavalin to prepare a feasibility study for the possible expansion of its Sayansk primary aluminum smelter. The expansion project reportedly would increase capacity at the smelter to 660,000 t/yr from 400,000 t/yr (Platts Metals Week, 2001k).

Slovakia .—Norsk Hydro and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Devel opment (EBRD) acquired a controlling interest in the 110,000-t/yr Slovalco aluminum smelter in Zar-Nad-Hronom. Norsk Hydro and EBRD purchased 40.8% of the outstanding shares of stock from the state-owned holding company, Zavod Slovenskeho Narodneho Povstania (ZSNP) for $76.5 million, giving each company 40% of the voting shares of Slovalco. ZSNP retained the remaining 20% of the shares. The deal also gives Norsk Hydro the option to take over EBRD’s shares prior to the end of 2006. Slovalco embarked on an $80 million expans ion project. Based on Norsk Hydro’s potroom technology, HAL230, the project was expected to add 37,000 t/yr of capacity. Upon completion in 2004, capacity at the smelter would increase to 155,000 t/yr (Norsk Hydro ASA, 2001).

Sweden .—Sapa AB reached an ag reement on the sale of its aluminum foil rolling operations to Pechiney and Comital SpA for $131 million. Pechiney purch ased the Dudelange plant in Luxembourg and the Flemalle facility in Belgium, which have a combined production capacity of 50,000 t/yr. Italy’s Comital acquired the rolling mill located in Skultana, Sweden (American Metal Market, 2001h).

Elkem acquired a controlling interest in Sapa, representing 35.7% of issued shares and vot es in the company (Elkem ASA, 2001).

Thailand .—The increased demand for aluminum in automotive applications for both the domestic and export markets prompted the expansion of aluminum facilities in Thailand. MC Aluminum (Thailand) announced the installation of a new furnace at its secondary smelter in Chachengsao. Capacity at the smelter, which produced aluminum alloys for castings, increased to 20,000 t/yr. MC Aluminum (Thailand) is owned by MC Aluminum (Japan), 45%; Enkai Corp., one of Japan’s largest manufacturers of cast aluminum auto and motorbike wheels, 40%; and Mitsubishi Corp., 15% (Metal Bulletin, 2001k).

Muang-Max (Thailand) doubled the capacity of its extrusion plant to 360 t/mo. The plant produced extruded aluminum tubes for heat exchangers used in automotive air conditioning systems. Muang-Max (Thailand) is owned by Mitsubishi Aluminum, 33%; MALC-Thailand, 17%; Muang-Thong Aluminum Industry, 34%; and 8% each by Mitsubishi Corp. and THAI-MC (Metal Bulletin, 2001l).

Turkey .—Eti Holdings announced a $300 million modernization project at its 60,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter. Upon completion, capacity at the Seydisehir smelter would increase to 110,000 t/yr (Mining Journal, 2001g).

Ukraine .—The Ukrainian high court overturned the sale of the Government’s 68% interest in the Zaporozhye Aluminum Works (ZALK) to Kremenchug Auto Works (Kraz) Foreign Trade Company, which had been announced late last year (Plunkert, 2002, p. 6.9). The State Property Fund then signed an agreement with AvtoVAZ-I nvest whereby AvtoVAZ-Invest would purchase 68% of ZALK for $70 million, as well as assuming the plant’s debt and agreeing to undertake a $200 million, 5-year modernization program. The modernization program would increase capacity at the 110,000-t/yr smelter to 200,000 t/yr. The State planned to retain a 25% stake in thesmelter and the employees held the remaining 7%. AvtoVAZInvest was a joint venture between Russian auto maker AvtoVAZ and trader Arlan and reportedly was backed by Russia’s Vnesheconombank (Metal Bulletin, 2001o).

United Kingdom .—Pechiney acquired British Aluminum Specialty Extrusions from Luxfer Holdings Plc. The plant, which operated three extrusion presses with a combined capacity of 10,000 t/yr, manufactured hard alloy aluminum extrusions for transportation and general engineering applications (Pechiney, 2001).

Later in the year, Luxfer agreed to purchase an aluminum gas-cylinder manufacturing facility from Pechiney. The French facility, Societe Metallurgique de Gerzat, reportedly produced 400,000 high-pressure cylinders per year. High-pressure aluminum cylinder uses include fire extinguishers, breathing apparatus, diving equipment, medical and industrial gases, beverage dispensers, and, in recent years, paint-ball guns (American Metal Market, 2001f).

IMCO announced plans to build a $7.4 million aluminum scrap and dross recovery plant in Warrington. The new plant would be used to recover aluminum from dross and other production residues generated at Alcan’s aluminum UBC plant also located in Warrington. Pl ans called for the new plant to use a gas-fired tilting rotary furnace and to produce about 35,000 t/yr of secondary aluminum (American Metal Market, 2001e).

Venezuela .—Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) announced the restart of production on Potline 1 at its Aluminios del Caroni, S.A. (Alcasa) aluminum smelter. Potlines 1 and 2, which were taken offline in 1998, are being modernized and should be fully operational by mid-2002.U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2001 6.8 Glencore AG, which is investi ng $16 million in the project, will be reimbursed with metal produced by the two lines over the next 2 years. The reactivati on of these lines, each with a capacity of 25,000 t/yr, will incr ease capacity at the smelter to 210,000 t/yr (Metal Bulletin, 2001b).

CVG also announced that it had undertaken the administrative unbundling of its four aluminum sector companies—Alcasa, Industria Venezolana de Aluminio C.A. (Venalum), CVG Bauxilum C.A. (Bauxilum), and CVG Carbones del Orinoco C.A. (Carbonorca). Corporación Aluminios de Venezuela (Cavsa), the state-owned holdi ng company that was formed in 1997 to facilitate the sale of these companies as a single block, was dissolved at the end of the year. The four companies will continue to be state-owned through CVG but would revert to the management structures they had prior to 1997 (Kinch, 2001).

Vietnam .—Vietnam National Mineral Corp. (Vimico) announced plans to construct a 73,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter in Lam Dong Province. Plans originally called for a 100,000-t/yr smelter but were s caled back because of tight energy supplies. Pechiney was expected to provide technological support for th e $600 million project (Metal Bulletin, 2001r).

Current Research and Technology

Alcoa announced that a new technology for the treatment of spent potliners has been approved by the Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria, Australia. The Alcoa Portland SPL Process reportedly renders harmless what has been classified as a hazardous waste inmany countries including the United States. The process produces aluminum fluoride and a granulated vitreous material re ferred to as “synthetic sand.” The aluminum fluoride can be used in the aluminum smelting process and the synthetic sand has been approved for use in commercial applications such as roadmaking and concrete (Alcoa Inc., 2001o).

Outlook

The world aluminum market continued to be in an oversupply situation during the first half of 2002. By mid-June, inventories on the LME had risen to more than 1.2 Mt. Aluminum demand was showing some signs of increasing but did not appear to be high enough to draw down inventories and to absorb the production from new and/or previously idled capacity that was coming onstream.

Demand is expected to increase over the next few years as the world economies begin to grow. If announced expansion plans are completed, then supply should be adequate to meet the anticipated growth in demand.

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shuts: Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 29, July 16, p. 3-4. Platts Metals Week, 2001h, Lanzhou Aluminum plans 150,000mt expansion in

2002: Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 46, November 12, p. 5. Platts Metals Week, 2001i, Longview to be fully idled through April 2002:

Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 10, March 5, p. 5-6. Platts Metals Week, 2001j, New 500,000mt/year smelter proposed in Australia:

Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 6, February 5, p. 15. Platts Metals Week, 2001k, RusAl appoints SNC-Lavalin for aluminum

expansion: Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 50, December 17, p. 2-3. Platts Metals Week, 2001l, Secondaries shut smelters amid rising cost pressures: Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 3, January 15, p. 8-10. Platts Metals Week, 2001m, US aluminum billet maker Ohio Valley buys

Indiana plant: Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 25, June 18, p. 3. Platts Metals Week, 2001n, US secondary Al market to benefit from capacity

closures: Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 8, February 19, p. 2-3. Platts Metals Week, 2001o, Wabash to close Syracuse secondary aluminum

alloy plant: Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 52, December 31, p. 9. Platts Metals Week, 2001p, Warrick po tline to soon reach capacity: Platts

Metals Week, v. 72, no. 35, August 27, p. 8. Platts Metals Week, 2001q, Wise’s Lister Hill aluminum modernization

continues: Platts Metals Week, v. 72, no. 50, December 17, p. 3-4. Plunkert, P.A., 2002, Aluminum, in Metals and minerals: U.S. Geological

Survey Minerals Yearbook 2000, v. I, p. 6.1-6.20. Regan, Bob, 2001a, Alberni aluminum pr oject is still a go: American Metal

Market, v. 109, no. 189, September 28, p. 12. Regan, Bob, 2001b, Alcoa considers building a smelter in Newfoundland:

American Metal Market, v. 109, no. 146, July 30, p. 2. Rexam PLC, 2001a, Rexam acts to balan ce capacity and demand in US beverage

can market: London, Rexam PLC press release, July 25, 1 p. Rexam PLC, 2001b, Rexam takes further action to balance US beverage can

capacity and demand: London, Rexam PL C press release, November 1, 1 p. Wong, K.L., 2001, Qingtongxia Aluminum completes expansion: Metal Bulletin, no. 8626, November 19, p. 5. Worden, Edward, 2001a, Entrepreneur buying 80% stake in Wise Recycling:

American Metal Market, v. 109, no. 214, November 2, p. 1, 12.U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2001 6.10 Worden, Edward, 2001b, Liston Aluminum jumps for Ch.11 cover: American

Metal Market, v. 109, no. 220, November 12, p. 14. Worden, Edward, 2001c, Minalco revs up capacity as auto production brakes:

American Metal Market, v. 109, no. 24, February 5, p. 10. Worden, Edward, 2001d, Ohio’s Albex Aluminum shutting down: American

Metal Market, v. 109, no. 156, August 13, p. 13. Worden, Edward, 2001e, Secondary sme lters face tough condition: American

Metal Market, v. 109, no. 141, July 23, p. 14. Worden, Edward, 2001f, Wabash Alloys to mothball deoxidized aluminum

plant: American Metal Market, v. 109, no. 215, November 5, p. 10. Wrigley, Al, 2001a, Hayes seeks Ch.11 cover for US plants: American Metal

Market, v. 109, no. 237, December 7, p. 1, 12. Wrigley, Al, 2001b, Intermet to close Alexander City plant: American Metal

Market, v. 109, no. 209, October 26, p. 12. Wrigley, Al, 2001c, Secondary casting allo ys dominate applications as vehicle

demand slows: American Metal Market , v. 109, no. 11, January 17, p. 2A.

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. Aluminum Association Inc. Aluminum Statistical Review,

annual. Bauxite Mines Worldwide, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1994.TABLE 1
SALIENT ALUMINUM STATISTICS 1/

(Thousand metric tons, unless otherwise specified)

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
United States: Primary production 3,603 3,713 3,779 3,668 2,637 Value (million dollars) $6,120 $5,360 $5,470 $6,030 $4,000 Price (average cents per pound), U.S. market (spot) 77.1 65.5 65.7 74.6 68.8 Inventories (December 31): Aluminum industry 2/ 1,860 1,930 1,870 1,550 1,300 LME stocks in U.S. warehouses 3/ 8 13 14 (4/) 28 National Defense Stockpile (4/) -- -- -- -- Secondary recovery: 5/ 3,550 3,440 3,690 3,450 2,980 New scrap 2,020 1,950 2,120 2,080 1,770 Old scrap 1,530 1,500 1,570 1,370 1,210 Exports (crude and semicrude) 1,570 1,590 1,640 1,760 1,590 Imports for consumption (cr ude and semicrude) 3,080 3,550 4,000 3,910 3,740 Aluminum industry shipments 6/ 8,880 9,260 9,840 9,830 r/ 8,640 Supply, apparent 7/ 8,740 9,040 9,890 9,610 8,000 Consumption, apparent 8/ 6,720 7,090 7,770 7,530 6,230 World, production 21,700 22,600 23,600 24,400 r/ 24,400 e/

e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. -- Zero. 1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits, except "Primary production." 2/ Includes ingot, semifabricated material , and scrap. 1997 and 1998 data from Current Industrial Reports, Series M33-D, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau. 1999 through 2001 data from the Aluminum Association Inc. 3/ Includes aluminum alloyed material.

4/ Less than 1/2 unit. 5/ Metallic recovery from purchased, tolled, or imported new and old scra p expanded for full industry coverage. 6/ Shipped to domestic industry. 7/ Defined as domestic primary metal produc tion plus secondary recovery plus imports minus exports plus adjustments for Governm ent and industry stocks changes. 8/ Apparent supply less recove ry from purchased new scrap.

TABLE 2 PRIMARY ANNUAL ALUMINUM PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN THE UNITED STATES, BY COMPANY 1/

Yearend capacity (thousand metric tons) Company 2000 2001 2001 ownership Alcan Aluminum Corp., Sebree, KY 186 196 Alcan Inc., 100%.

Alcoa Inc.: 2/ Alcoa, TN 210 210 Alcoa Inc., 100%. Badin, NC 115 120 Do. Evansville, IN (Warrick) 300 309 Do. Ferndale, WA (Intalco) 272 278 Alcoa Inc., 61%; Mitsui & Co. Ltd., 32%; YKK Corp., 7%. Frederick, MD (Eastalco) 174 192 Do. Massena, NY (St. Lawrence) 123 125 Alcoa Inc., 100%. Massena, NY 125 130 Do. Mount Holly, SC 215 212 Alcoa Inc., 50.3%; Century Aluminum Co., 49.7%. Rockdale, TX 315 340 Alcoa Inc., 100%. Troutdale, OR 121 121 Do. Wenatchee, WA 220 227 Do. Total 2,190 r/ 2,260 Century Aluminum Co.: Hawesville, KY 237 237 Century Aluminum Co., 80%; Glencore AG, 20%. Ravenswood, WV 168 170 Century Aluminum Co., 100%.

Total 405 407

See footnotes at end of table.TABLE 2--Continued PRIMARY ANNUAL ALUMINUM PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN THE UNITED STATES, BY COMPANY 1/

Yearend capacity (thousand metric tons) Company 2000 2001 2001 ownership Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., Columbia Falls, MT 168 168 Glencore AG, 100%. Goldendale Aluminum Co., Goldendale, WA 168 168 Private interest, 60%; employees, 40%. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp.: Mead, WA (Spokane) 200 200 MAXXAM In c., 100%. Tacoma, WA 73 73 Do.
Total 273 273 Longview Aluminum, L.L.C., Longview, WA 204 204 Michigan Avenue Partners, 100%. Noranda Aluminum Inc., New Madrid , MO 222 230 Noranda Mines Ltd., 100%. Northwest Aluminum Corp., The Dalles, OR 82 82 Private interests, 100%. Ormet Primary Aluminum Corp., Hannibal, OH 257 257 Ormet Corp., 100%. Vanalco Inc., Vancouver, WA 116 116 Vanalco Inc., 100%. Grand total 4,270 4,370

r/ Revised. 1/ Data are rounded to no more three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Individual plant capacities in 2000 are U.S. Geological Survey estimates based on company reported total.

TABLE 3

U.S. CONSUMPTION OF AND RECOVERY FROM PURCHASED NEW AND OLD ALUMINUM SCRAP, BY CLASS 1/ 2/

(Metric tons)

Calculated recovery Class Consumption Aluminum Metallic

2000: Secondary smelters 1,960,000 1,350,000 1,450,000 Integrated aluminum companies 1,060,000 873,000 930,000 Independent mill fabricators 800,000 689,000 736,000 Foundries 95,600 80,200 85,800 Other consumers 14,600 14,600 14,600 Total 3,940,000 3,010,000 3,220,000 Estimated full industry coverage 4,220,000 3,220,000 3,450,000

2001: Secondary smelters 1,640,000 1,140,000 1,230,000 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 3,390,000 2,600,000 2,790,000 Estimated full industry coverage 3,630,000 2,790,000 2,980,000 1/ Excludes recovery from other than aluminum-base scrap. 2/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to

totals shown.TABLE 4 U.S. STOCKS, RECEIPTS, AND CONSUMPTION OF PURCHASED NEW AND OLD ALUMINUM SCRAP AND
SWEATED PIG IN 2001 1/ 2/

(Metric tons)

Stocks, Net Consump- Stocks, Class of consumer and type of sc rap January 1 receipts 3/ tion December 31 Secondary smelters: New scrap: Solids 18,300 253,000 252,000 19,900 Borings and turnings 9,660 265,000 270,000 5,040 Dross and skimmings 4,080 423,000 424,000 3,260 Other 4/ 3,060 176,000 178,000 1,170 Total 35,100 1,120,000 1,120,000 29,300 Old scrap: Castings, sheet, clippings 4,730 309,000 307,000 6,320 Aluminum-copper radiators 1,710 16,500 16,500 1,660 Aluminum cans 5/ 1,350 94,300 94,300 1,390 Other 6/ 5,990 91,700 92,100 5,620 Total 13,800 512,000 510,000 15,000 Sweated pig 191 10,500 10,500 137 Grand total 49,100 1,640,000 1,640,000 44,400 Integrated aluminum companies, foundries, independent mill fabricators, other consumers: New scrap: Solids 16,700 r/ 727,000 734,000 9,600 Borings and turnings 318 17,800 17,800 352 Dross and skimmings 137 8,490 8,480 148 Other 4/ 6,710 r/ 158,000 157,000 7,770 Total 23,800 r/ 911,000 917,000 17,900 Old scrap: Castings, sheet, clippings 6,940 135,000 137,000 4,210 Aluminum-copper radiators 241 5,270 5,180 324 Aluminum cans 26,900 656,000 651,000 31,500 Other 6/ 22 29,800 29,800 22 Total 34,100 825,000 823,000 36,000 Sweated pig 179 1,490 1,640 33 Grand total 58,100 r/ 1,740,000 1,740,000 53,900 All scrap consumed: New scrap: Solids 35,000 r/ 980,000 985,000 29,500 Borings and turnings 9,970 283,000 288,000 5,400 Dross and skimmings 4,210 431,000 432,000 3,410 Other 4/ 9,770 r/ 334,000 335,000 8,940 Total 58,900 r/ 2,030,000 2,040,000 47,200 Old scrap: Castings, sheet, clippings 11,700 444,000 445,000 10,500 Aluminum-copper radiators 1,960 21,700 21,700 1,990 Aluminum cans 28,300 750,000 745,000 32,900 Other 6/ 6,010 121,000 122,000 5,640 Total 47,900 1,340,000 1,330,000 51,000 Sweated pig 370 12,000 12,200 170 Grand total 107,000 r/ 3,380,000 3,390,000 98,400

r/ Revised. 1/ Includes imported scrap. According to reporting comp anies, 24.1% of total receipts of aluminum-base scrap, or 818,000 metric tons, was received on toll arrangements. 2/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 3/ Includes inventory adjustment. 4/ Includes data on foil, can stock clippings, and other miscellaneous. 5/ Used beverage cans toll treated for primary pro ducers are included in secondary smelter tabulation. 6/ Includes municipal wastes (includes litter) and fragmentized scrap (auto shredder).TABLE 5

PRODUCTION AND SHIPMENTS OF SECONDARY ALUMINUM ALLOYS BY INDEPENDENT SMELTERS IN
THE UNITED STATES 1/

(Metric tons)

2000 2001

Net Net Production shipments 2/ Production shipments 2/ Diecast alloys: 13% Si, 360, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 30,600 30,200 21,500 22,800 380 and variations 515,000 526,000 388,000 391,000 Sand and permanent mold: 95/5 Al-Si, 356, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 127,000 126,000 61,400 62,100 No. 319 and variations 137,000 139,000 128,000 133,000 F-132 alloy and variations 30,400 30,200 24,300 25,000 Al-Mg alloys 639 639 639 639 Al-Zn alloys 2,240 2,930 1,780 1,940 Al-Si alloys (0.6% to 2.0% Cu) 2,020 2,020 2,020 2,020 Al-Cu alloys (1.5% Si, maximum) 2,290 2,290 2,290 2,290 Al-Si-Cu-Ni alloys 949 951 949 950 Other 1,320 1,350 1,340 1,310 Wrought alloys, extrusion billets 210,000 210,000 208,000 207,000

Miscellaneous:

Steel deoxidation W W W W Pure (97.0% Al) W W W W Aluminum-base hardeners 3,470 3,470 3,470 3,470 Other 3/ 122,000 124,000 101,000 103,000 Total 1,190,000 1,200,000 944,000 956,000 Less consumption of materials other than scrap: Primary aluminum 77,600 XX 70,900 XX Primary silicon 50,200 XX 42,200 XX Other 16,700 XX 9,300 XX Net metallic recovery from aluminum scrap and sweated pig consumed in production of secondary aluminum ingot 4/ 1,040,000 XX 822,000 XX W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Miscellaneous: Other." XX Not applicable. 1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Includes inventory adjustment. 3/ Includes other die-cast alloys. 4/ No allowance made for melt-loss of primary aluminum and alloying ingredients.TABLE 6

DISTRIBUTION OF END-USE SHIPMENTS OF ALUMINUM PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES, BY INDUSTRY 1/

2000 2001 Quantity Percentage Quantity Percentage (thousand of (thousand of Industry metric tons) grand total metric tons) grand total Containers and packaging 2,260 20.4 2,200 22.6 Building and construction 1,450 13.1 1,310 13.5 Transportation 3,600 32.4 r/ 3,010 30.9

Electrical 771 r/ 6.9 624 6.4

Consumer durables 767 r/ 6.9 655 6.7 Machinery and equipment 679 6.1 582 6.0

Other markets 293 2.6 247 2.5 Total to domestic users 9,830 r/ 88.5 r/ 8,640 88.7 Exports e/ 1,280 r/ 11.5 r/ 1,100 11.3 Grand total 11,100 100.0 9,740 100.0

e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. 1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

Source: The Aluminum Association Inc.

TABLE 7 U.S. NET SHIPMENTS OF ALUMINUM WROUGHT AND CAST PRODUCTS, BY PRODUCERS 1/ 2/

(Thousand metric tons)

1999 2000 2001 Wrought products: Sheet, plate, foil 5,000 4,840 4,340 Pipe, tube, extruded, shapes 1,640 1,640 r/ 1,320 Rod, bar, wire, cable 549 588 r/ 479 Forgings (including impacts) 108 106 84 Powder, flake, paste 54 59 56 Total 7,360 7,230 6,280 Castings:

Sand 158 148 NA Permanent and semipermanent mold 484 r/ 474 NA Die 1,020 r/ 1,020 NA

Other 130 r/ 129 NA Total 1,790 r/ 1,770 NA Grand total 9,150 r/ 9,010 NA

r/ Revised. NA Not available. 1/ Net shipments derived by subtracting the sum of pr oducers' domestic receipts of each mill shape from the domestic industry's gross shipments of that shape. 2/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

Source: The Aluminum Association Inc. and U.S. Department of Commerce.TABLE 8 U.S. EXPORTS OF ALUMINUM, BY COUNTRY 1/

Metals and alloys, crude Plates, sheets, bars, etc. 2/ Scrap Total Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Country or territory (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)

2000: Brazil 829 $1,520 31,900 $98,100 159 $180 32,900 $99,800 Canada 125,000 208,000 504,000 1,310,000 225,000 221,000 854,000 1,740,000 Czech Republic 5 9 21 285 -- -- 26 294 France 30 122 5,530 29,400 1,790 3,290 7,350 32,800 Germany 858 5,130 4,980 30,100 1,150 2,820 6,990 38,100 Hong Kong 1,440 2,420 2,610 13,000 28,900 34,400 33,000 49,900 Italy 33 111 2,070 12,000 8 11 2,110 12,100 Japan 44,300 74,400 9,840 74,400 27,800 35,500 81,900 184,000 Korea, Republic of 3,640 11,900 20,500 77,000 34,100 38,100 58,200 127,000 Mexico 87,700 140,000 156,000 523,000 78,000 105,000 321,000 768,000 Netherlands 244 1,020 3,280 12,900 415 621 3,940 14,500 Philippines 41 61 774 3,530 265 435 1,080 4,020 Russia -- -- 211 1,180 47 64 258 1,250 Saudi Arabia 1 11 8,380 20,300 2 6 8,380 20,300 Singapore 414 1,160 2,630 15,700 346 459 3,390 17,300

Slovakia -- -- 11 35 -- -- 11 35 Slovenia -- -- (3/) 4 -- -- (3/) 4 South Africa 24 220 80 919 15 68 118 1,210 Taiwan 2,200 3,540 8,430 31,000 30,300 31,500 40,900 66,000 Thailand 822 1,720 6,860 24,300 1,020 1,420 8,700 27,400

Ukraine -- -- 1 25 -- -- 1 25 United Kingdom 1,090 3,770 20,400 94,700 5,450 5,910 26,900 104,000 Venezuela 63 125 17,200 40,200 33 117 17,300 40,500 Other 4,790 r/ 12,400 102,000 353,000 141,000 167,000 248,000 532,000 Total 273,000 468,000 907,000 2,770,000 576,000 648,000 1,760,000 3,880,000

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 Czech Republic -- -- 36 458 -- -- 36 458 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

Slovakia -- -- 1 19 -- -- 1 19

Slovenia -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 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

Ukraine -- -- 93 244 -- -- 93 244 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 2,880 9,460 84,900 306,000 192,000 176,000 280,000 492,000 Total 192,000 320,000 814,000 2,480,000 580,000 588,000 1,590,000 3,390,000

r/ Revised. -- Zero. 1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Includes castings, forgings, and unclassified semifabricated forms.

3/ Less than 1/2 unit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.TABLE 9 U.S. EXPORTS OF ALUMINUM, BY CLASS 1/

2000 2001 Quantity Value Quantity Value Class (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)

Crude and semicrude: Metals and alloys, crude 273,000 $468,000 192,000 $320,000 Scrap 576,000 648,000 580,000 588,000 Plates, sheets, bars, strip, etc. 845,000 2,380,000 751,000 2,120,000 Castings and forgings 14,700 137,000 18,100 149,000 Semifabricated forms, n.e.c. 48,000 248,000 44,500 215,000 Total 1,760,000 3,880,000 1,590,000 3,390,000

Manufactures: Foil and leaf 61,100 219,000 59,200 225,000 Powders and flakes 9,600 47,500 8,660 40,100 Wire and cable 29,500 122,000 28,300 84,100 Total 100,000 388,000 96,200 349,000 Grand total 1,860,000 4,270,000 1,680,000 3,740,000 1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

TABLE 10 U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF ALUMINUM, BY CLASS 1/

2000 2001 Quantity Value Quantity Value Class (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)

Crude and semicrude: Metals and alloys, crude 2,490,000 $4,030,000 2,560,000 $3,930,000 Plates, sheets, strip, etc., n.e.c. 2/ 628,000 1,530,000 553,000 1,320,000 Pipes, tubes, etc. 20,800 109,000 16,400 90,400 Rods and bars 142,000 449,000 114,000 352,000 Scrap 625,000 744,000 497,000 552,000 Total 3,910,000 6,860,000 3,740,000 6,250,000

Manufactures: Foil and leaf 3/ 87,800 293,000 86,600 306,000 Flakes and powders 5,020 14,000 5,360 16,300 Wire 118,000 231,000 91,700 162,000 Total 211,000 538,000 184,000 484,000 Grand total 4,120,000 7,400,000 3,920,000 6,740,000 1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Includes plates, sheets, circles, and disks. 3/ Excludes etched capacitor foil.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.TABLE 11 U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF ALUMINUM, BY COUNTRY 1/

Metals and alloys, crude Plates, sheets, bars, etc. 2/ Scrap Total Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Country (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)

2000: Argentina 59,000 $100,000 1,360 $2,950 1,300 $1,710 61,700 $105,000 Australia 23,000 38,800 2,840 6,300 -- -- 25,800 45,100 Bahrain 22,000 37,300 22,000 45,100 103 49 44,100 82,500 Belgium 21 97 3,690 11,600 99 120 3,810 11,800 Brazil 42,800 69,700 9,810 17,200 32,900 48,900 85,500 136,000 Canada 1,420,000 2,390,000 435,000 1,050,000 289,000 345,000 2,150,000 3,780,000

Croatia -- -- 163 547 -- -- 163 547 Czech Republic 21 29 307 1,040 -- -- 328 1,070 France 869 8,230 10,400 43,200 11,400 9,820 22,700 61,300 Germany 643 4,810 41,700 163,000 6,740 8,380 49,100 176,000 Italy 200 265 2,980 10,700 35 44 3,220 11,000 Japan 336 787 21,400 80,500 753 1,360 22,500 82,700 Korea, Republic of 89 274 13,300 33,900 514 1,050 13,900 35,200 Mexico 4,570 6,670 22,000 79,000 76,000 85,800 102,000 171,000 Netherlands 218 626 4,200 13,000 2,510 2,620 6,930 16,300 Norway 7,010 13,500 106 418 -- -- 7,110 14,000 Panama 12 14 1,480 4,710 7,200 9,040 8,690 13,800 Russia 670,000 996,000 66,500 159,000 100,000 122,000 837,000 1,280,000

Slovakia 255 273 2 9 -- -- 257 282 Slovenia -- -- 4,350 14,000 -- -- 4,350 14,000 South Africa 24,000 36,400 23,300 53,500 599 660 47,900 90,600 Spain 343 644 402 1,630 161 205 905 2,470 Ukraine 10,200 12,600 -- -- 6,830 7,240 17,000 19,800 United Arab Emirates 53,300 94,900 -- -- 4,990 6,080 58,300 101,000 United Kingdom 5,290 8,210 15,400 60,700 5,650 6,340 26,300 75,200 Venezuela 120,000 165,000 24,900 47,900 19,800 23,300 165,000 236,000 Other 25,800 42,400 63,700 187,000 58,400 64,200 148,000 293,000 Total 2,490,000 4,030,000 791,000 2,080,000 625,000 744,000 3,910,000 6,860,000

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

Croatia -- -- 211 664 -- -- 211 664 Czech Republic -- -- 87 295 -- -- 87 295 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

Slovakia 131 138 -- -- -- -- 131 138 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 24,700 36,000 59,500 180,000 42,400 42,700 127,000 259,000 Total 2,560,000 3,930,000 683,000 1,770,000 497,000 552,000 3,740,000 6,250,000

-- Zero. 1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Includes circles, disks, rods, pipes, tubes, etc.

3/ Less than 1/2 unit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.TABLE 12 ALUMINUM, PRIMARY: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY 1/ 2/

(Thousand metric tons)

Country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 e/ Argentina 187 187 206 r/ 262 r/ 250 Australia 1,495 1,627 1,718 1,769 1,798 3/ Azerbaijan e/ 5 3/ -- -- -- --

Bahrain 490 501 503 509 510 Bosnia and Herzegovina e/ 4/ 15 28 70 90 110 Brazil 1,200 1,208 1,250 1,271 r/ 1,131 3/

Cameroon e/ 91 82 92 95 81 3/ Canada 2,327 2,374 2,390 2,373 2,583 3/ China e/ 1,960 2,340 2,530 2,800 r/ 3,250

Croatia 4/ 18 r/ 16 r/ 14 r/ 14 r/ 15 Egypt 178 195 193 193 e/ 193

France 399 424 455 441 462 Germany 572 612 634 644 652
Ghana 152 56 104 156 162 3/

Greece 133 146 170 r/ 168 r/ 163 Hungary 35 35 34 r/ 35 35

Iceland 5/ 123 173 222 r/ 226 r/ 243

India 6/ 484 542 614 r/ 644 r/ 630

Indonesia e/ 6/ 216 3/ 133 r/ 106 r/ 160 180

Iran 92 124 137 140 e/ 140 Italy 188 187 r/ 187 189 187 Japan 7/ 17 16 11 7 7

Mexico 6/ 66 62 63 r/ 65 r/ e/ 65 Mozambique -- -- -- 54 266 3/

Netherlands 232 264 e/ 286 r/ 302 r/ 294

New Zealand 310 318 327 328 r/ 322 3/ Nigeria e/ 3 20 16 -- -- Norway 919 996 1,020 1,026 1,068 3/

Poland 8/ 54 54 51 r/ 47 r/ 55

Romania 9/ 163 174 r/ 174 179 r/ 175 Russia 2,906 3,005 3,146 3,245 3,300 Serbia and Montenegro 4/ 66 60 r/ 73 88 r/ 70

Slovakia 6/ 110 108 109 110 110

Slovenia 4/ 74 r/ 74 r/ 77 r/ 100 r/ 100

South Africa 673 677 689 r/ 674 r/ 663 3/ Spain 360 362 364 366 376

Suriname e/ 32 29 3/ 6 r/ -- --

Sweden 98 96 99 101 102

Switzerland 27 32 34 35 e/ 35 Tajikistan 206 196 229 300 340 Turkey e/ 62 3/ 62 62 60 60

Ukraine 9/ 101 107 115 r/ 119 r/ 122 United Arab Emirates, Dubai 381 r/ 352 r/ 440 e/ 470 r/ e/ 500 United Kingdom 248 258 272 305 341 United States 3,603 3,713 3,779 3,668 2,637 3/

Venezuela 634 585 570 569 r/ 570 Total 21,700 22,600 23,600 24,400 r/ 24,400

e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. -- Zero. 1/ World totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Primary aluminum is defined as "The weight of liquid alum inum as tapped from pots, excluding the weight of any alloying materials as well as that of any metal produced from either re turned scrap or remelted materi als." International reporting practices vary from country to country, some nations conforming to the foregoing definition and others using different

definitions. For those countries for whic h a different definition is given specifica lly in the source publication, that defin ition is provided in this table by footnote. Table includes data available through May 11, 2002. 3/ Reported figure. 4/ Primary ingot plus secondary ingot. 5/ Ingot and rolling billet production. 6/ Primary ingot. 7/ Excludes high-purity aluminum containing 99.995% or more as follows, in metric tons: 1997--36,136; 1998--35,063; 1999--34,893; 2000--40,956; and 2001--26,586. 8/ Primary unalloyed ingot plus secondary unalloyed ingot. 9/ Primary unalloyed metal plus primary alloyed metal, thus including weight of alloying material.