ALUMINUM—1997 5.1



# A LUMINUM

By Patricia A. Plunkert

Domestic primary aluminum production increased slightly in 1997 to just over 3.6 million metric tons. Thirteen companies op erated 22 primary aluminum reduction plants, and 1 plant remainedclosed. Montana, Oregon, and Washington accounted for 38% of the production; Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, 21%; and other States, 41%. The value was estimated to be $6.1 billion. Aluminumrecovered from purchased scrap increased to almost 3.7 million tons. Of this recovered metal, 59% came from new (m anufacturing) scrap and 41% from old (discarded aluminum pr oducts) scrap. Aluminum used beverage can (UBC) scrap accounted for more than one-half of the reported old scrap consumptionin 1997. The recycling rate for aluminum UBC’s increased to 66.5%. Transportationand the container and packaging industries remainedthe largest domestic markets for aluminum products in 1997. The transportation industry accounted for an estimated 34% of domestic consumption; containers and packaging, 25%; building and construction, 15%; electrical and consumer durables, 8% each; and other uses 10%. U.S. imports for consumption of aluminum materials increased in 1997, reversing a downward trend that began in 1995. Canada remainedthe largest shipper of aluminum materials to the United States. Shipments of crude metal and alloys from Russia, the secondlargest source of U.S. imports, appear to have stabilized in thearea of 400,000 tons over the last 3 years. Total exports from the United States also increased in 1997. The price of primary ingot on the domestic and the interna tional markets fluctuated during the year. The annual average price of primary ingot was modestly higher than that in 1996. Prices in the aluminum scrap markets paralleled the general trend of primary ingot prices during the year. Worldinventory levels at the end of 1997 were mixed, though overallthere was about a 130,000-ton net decrease. Inventories heldby the London Metal Exchange (LME) decreased by about 300,000 tons. World producer total metal stocks, however, increased slightly, as reported by the International Primary Alu minum Institute (IPAI). U.S. inventories also increased slightly during the year. Primary aluminum was produced in 43 countries in 1997. The Unit ed States was the largest producer with 17% of the world total, followed by Russia with 14% and Canada with 11%. World metal production increased 3% compared with that of 1996.

Legislation and Government Programs

The 1997 Defense Authorization Act authorized the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to sell the entire inventory of aluminum metal, 57,046 tons (62,882 short tons), from the National Defense Stockpile(NDS). Sales began in April and continued through October. By the end of the calendar year, 56,665 tons (62,462 shorttons) of metal had been sold. The value of the metal sold was approximately $92.7 million.

Production

Primary .—Domestic primary aluminum production, totaling 3,603,362 tons, increased by 1% compared with that in 1996. (See tables 1 and 2.) Production data were obtained from the 13 domestic producers, all of whom responded to the request from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for data. Reynolds Metals Co. announced the planned restart of limited productionat its Troutdale, OR, primary aluminum smelter by February1998 at an annual rate of 27,000 tons. The Troutdale smelter, which has an installed capacity of 121,000 tons per year, hadbeen idle since December 1991 (Reynolds Metals Co., 1998). Reynolds also announced that it had begun the process of restarting 47,000 tons peryear of production at its 204,000-tonper-year Longview, WA, primary aluminum smelter. The restart was expected to be completed in the second quarter of 1998 (Reynolds Metals Co., 1998). Noranda Aluminum Inc. announced thatit had awarded a $3- million contract to ICF Kaiser International Inc. to provide engineering and design services for a $54-million modernization project at its New Madrid, MO, primary aluminum smelter. The 10-monthproject, which involves the conversion to a new singlepieceanode technology, was expected to increase existing annual capacity of 220,000 tons by about 33,000 tons (33 Metal Producing, 1997). Norandaalso announced the signing of a new 5-year labor agreementwith its workers at the New Madrid smelter. The agreementreportedly includes an 8% wage increase over 5 years and improved pension and vacation benefits. The new contract
went into effect September 1 and was set to expire August 31, 2002 (Platt’s Metals Week, 1997c). OrmetPrimary Aluminum Corp. announced that it had signed a 10-year agreement, beginning in 2000, with CNG Energy Services that will provide most of Ormet’s power supply for itsHannibal, OH, smelter and rolling mill through a jointmanagementcommittee and power trading desk. The trading desk will be responsible for acquiring power, arranging for transmission, developing price and risk management strategies to controlOrmet’s power costs, and assuring reliability of the power supply (Ormet Primary Aluminum Corp., 1997). AlumaxInc. announced that it was investing $18 million to increasealuminum extrusion billet production capacity by 30% to 227,000 tons per year. The production of aluminum extrusion bi llet involves casting primary aluminum into logs, followed by

aprocess called homogenizing—heat-treating the logs to prevent the chemical segregation of alloying elements. ContinuousALUMINUM—1997

5.2 

## homogenizing furnace systems are being installed at the company’s Eastalco smelter in Frederick, MD, and the Intalco smelter in Ferndale, WA. Both systems are expected to be fully operational by the end of 1998 (Alumax Inc., 1997b). Alumaxalso announced plans to construct a fully integrated extrusionplant on the site of its old rolling mill in Morris, IL, that

was closed in 1994. The $35-million investment will include the installationof two extrusion presses—an existing 3,300-ton press
tobe relocated from the company’s Franklin, NH, facility and a new 7,300-ton press. Initially, the plant, scheduled to begin productionin early 1998, will manufacture extrusions for the automotiveand truck-trailer markets, as well as various shapes for service centers (Alumax Inc., 1997a). Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. reported the consolidation of its aluminum forging operations into two facilities with the closureof its Erie, PA, plant. Kaiser will shift the manufacture of its Erie forgings to its other plants in Greenwood, SC, and Oxnard, CA (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 1997b). During the year, Reynolds announced thesale of several of its fabricationplants. In March, the company’s U.S. residential construction products operations were sold to AmeriMark Building Products Inc. In May, the extrusion plant in El Campo, TX, was sold to William L. Bonnell, a subsidiary of Tredegar Industries Inc. In June, Kaiser bought the Bellwood, VA, extrusion plant; and in November, Eckart Aluminium L.P. purchaseda powder and paste plant in Louisville, KY (Reynolds Metals Co., 1998). In addition to the changes announced by the integrated aluminumcompanies, several independent fabricators reported significantplant expansions. In the die-casting industry, Mitsui Components (U.S.A.) Inc. opened a new plant in Casa Grande, AZ, that will produce small aluminum die-cast components for theautomotive and consumer electronics markets (Furukawa, 1997). SPX Corp.’s Contech division began construction of a new $8.4-million, die-casting facility in Pierceton, IN, which is expected to produce power steering components for the automotiveindustry (American Metal Market, 1997b). Ryobi Die Casting (USA) Inc. announced a major expansion at its Shelbyville, IN, plant that will add an estimated 25,000 to 27,000 tons (55 million to 60 million pounds) of annual production capability for light-alloy castings (Wrigley, 1997b). JWAluminum Co. reported that it had begun a 2-year, $31- millionexpansion project at its Mount Holly, SC, rolling mill that is expected to increase its capacity by 60% to 109,000 tons (240 million pounds) per year. This plant produces high-quality aluminumfoil, fin stock, litho sheet, and coiled sheet products (Platt’s Metals Week, 1997a). Secondary. —Metal recovered from new and old scrap increasedto 3.7 million tons in 1997, according to data derived by the USGS from its “Aluminum Scrap” survey. (See tables 3, 4, and 5.) Of the 93 companies and/or plants to which monthly or annual survey requests were sent, 66 responded, representing 86% of the total scrap consumed shown in table 4. According to figures released by the Aluminum Association Inc., the CanManufacturers Institute, and the Institute of Scrap RecyclingIndustries, 66.8 billion aluminum UBC’s were recycled in the United States during 1997. The recycling rate, based on the numberof cans shipped during the year, was 66.5%, a modest increase from the 63.5% recycling rate reported in 1996. According to the organizations’ joint press release, aluminum beveragecans produced domestically in 1997 had an average 54.7% postconsumer recycled content, the highest recycled content percentage of all packaging materials. During the year, there were several major acquisitions of recycling plants by Philip Services Corp., Wabash Alloys, and Imco Recycling. Reynolds reported the sale of its Bellwood, VA, secondary recycling plant to Philip Metals Recovery (USA) Inc., a subsidiary of Philip Services Corp. The plant processes scrap aluminum into

adeoxidizing agent used by the steel industry (Reynolds Metals Co., 1998). Philip Services also purchased Roth Brothers Smelting Corp. Prior to the sale, Roth Brothers’ secondary aluminumsmelter in Syracuse, NY, had begun an expansion programto increase production capacity from 74,000 tons per year to 110,000 tons of ingot per year. The expansion was expectedto continue under the new ownership (Platt’s Metals Week, 1997d). In September, Wabash Alloys announced that it had purchased the 2,700-ton-per-month Tipton, IN, secondary aluminum smelter from U.S. Reduction Co. (Platt’s Metals Week, 1997e). In late November, Wabash purchased most of the remaining major assets of U.S. Reduction. In this court-ordered auction, Wabash took

over ownership of the secondary aluminum smelters in Marietta, PA, Checotah, OK, and Russellville, AL, as well as the equipment from the smelters in East Chicago, IL, and Toledo, OH. The $29- million purchase was expected to bring Wabash’s rated capacity for the production of aluminum ingot to 545,000 tons (1.2 billion pounds) per year (Metal Bulletin, 1997e). In January, Imco Recycling Inc. acquired Imsamet, a wholly owned subsidiary of EnviroSource Inc. The purchase included threealuminum recycling plants—Goodyear, AZ, Post Falls, ID, andWendover, UT—and a 50% interest in a facility, near the Utahplant, that reclaims materials from salt cake, a byproduct of aluminumrecycling (American Metal Market, 1997d). Earlier in the month, Imco purchased Rock Creek Aluminum Inc., a supplier of deoxidation products to the steel industry. Rock Creek’s three plants in Cleveland, Elyria, and Rock Creek, OH, mechanicallyprocess about 68,000 tons (150 million pounds) per year of aluminum scrap and dross (Worden, 1997a). In September, Imco acquired Alchem Aluminum Inc., a privately owned producer of specification aluminum alloys for automobile manufacturers and their suppliers. The purchase included two secondaryaluminum smelters in Coldwater, MI, with a combined annual capacity of approximately 135,000 tons (300 million pounds) of specification ingot and a new customer facility in Knoxville, TN. These acquisitions and other expansions were expected to increase Imco’s processing capacity to about 1.2 milliontons (2.6 billion pounds) per year (Platt’s Metals Week, 1997b). Superior AluminumAlloys LLC, a subsidiary of OmniSource Corp., announced that construction had begun on a new secondaryaluminum smelter in New Haven, IN. Upon completion in early 1998, the smelter was expected to have a production capacityof 54,000 to 68,000 tons (120 million to 150 million pounds) per year (Worden, 1997b). MetalExchange Corp.’s Continental Aluminum, a producer ofALUMINUM—1997 5.3 

## deoxidizedaluminum for the steel industry, announced that it had begun construction of a secondary aluminum smelter in New Hudson, MI, for the production of specification aluminum ingot. Uponcompletion, the plant was expected to produce about 45,000 tons (100 million pounds) of ingot per year (Worden, 1997c). ThreeJapanese companies, Toyota Tsusho America Inc. (50%), Daiki International Trading Corp. (45%), and Toyota Tsusho Corp. Ltd. (5%), announced the formation of a joint venture to
construct a new secondary aluminum smelter in Troy, MI, capable of producing 30,000 tons (66 million pounds) per year of aluminum ingot for the automotive industry. According to the

co mpanies, production is targeted for Bodine Aluminum Inc., Toyota Motor’s St. Louis-based aluminum parts-casting subsidiary, which also has a plant in Troy (Wrigley, 1997c). Crown Cork & Seal Co. Inc. reported that it had exercised its option to purchase Golden Aluminum Co. from ACX Technologies, but retained option to return it to ACX within 2 years. Golden processes aluminum UBC scrap at its continuous
caster sheet mills in Fort Lupton, CO, and San Antonio, TX (American Metal Market, 1997c).

Consumption

The transportation industry, accounting for approximately 3 milliontons (29%) of total U.S. shipments of aluminum products, remained the largest domestic consumer of aluminum. The containerand packaging industry consumed just over 2.2 million tons of aluminum in 1997. (See tables 6 and 7.) With new casting applications leading the way, the North Americanautomotive industry indicated that it planned to expand th e use of aluminum in 1998 model cars and light-duty trucks. Depending on the number of vehicles produced, this could increasethe net use of aluminum by more than 67,000 tons (149 millionpounds) in 1998 compared with that of 1997. Chrysler, G eneral Motors, and Toyota have all announced plans to use aluminumcylinder blocks and heads in many of their automotive engines. The new block- and head-casting uses for aluminum involve secondary aluminum alloys, including A319.1 and A380.1 with the 319 material accounting for most of the applications. An increase in the use of aluminum sheet alloys, including 6111 and 6022, has also been mentioned along with

newapplications for aluminum extrusions and forgings (Wrigley, 1997a). AccurideCorp. and Kaiser have formed a joint venture, AKW L.P., to design, manufacture, and market aluminum wheels for thecommercial transportation industry. AKW plans to introduce

anew brand of forged aluminum wheels for medium and heavy trucks, trailers, RV’s, buses, and other commercial equipment (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 1997a).

Stocks

Inventories of aluminum ingot, mill products, and scrap at reduction and other processing plants, as reported by the U.S. Departmentof Commerce, increased from a revised 1.86 million tons at yearend 1996 to 1.88 million tons at yearend 1997. The LME reported that its U.S. warehouses held 325 tons of primary aluminum metal ingot at yearend 1997, a dramatic decreasefrom the approximately 12,400 tons of metal held in these warehouses at yearend 1996. The LME also reported that aluminumalloy ingot at its U.S. warehouses at yearend 1997 totaled7,260 tons, a significant decrease from the 20,100 tons of alloy held at yearend 1996. The DLA began the sale of aluminum metal from the NDS in April 1997. By the end of the year, the DLA reported that almost th e entire inventory of 57,000 tons (about 62,900 short tons) of aluminum metal had been sold, and the NDS inventory had decreased to 345 tons (380 short tons) of aluminum metal.

Prices

The monthly average U.S. market price of primary aluminum metal, as reported by Platt’s Metals Week, fluctuated during the year. The monthly average price began the year at 76.1 cents per pound and reacheda high of 80.1 cents per pound in August. By December, the monthly average had fallen to a low for the year of 74.7 cents per pound. The average price for the year was 77.1
cents per pound, a moderate increase compared with the 1996 average annual price of 71.3 cents per pound. The LME cash price for high-grade primary aluminum ingot followed the same general trend as the U.S. market price. The 1997 average annual LME cash price was 72.5 cents per pound. Purchaseprices for aluminum scrap, as quoted by American MetalMarket (AMM), followed the general trend of primary ingotprices. However, scrap prices closed the year at slightly higherlevels than those at the beginning of the year. The yearend priceranges for selected types of aluminum scrap were as follows: mi xed low-copper-content aluminum clips, 56 to 57 cents per pound; old sheet and cast, 49 to 50 cents per pound; and clean, dry aluminum turnings, 50 to 51 cents per pound. Aluminumproducers’ buying price range for processed and deliveredUBC’s, as quoted by AMM, fluctuated during the year. The price range began the year at 53 to 54 cents per pound,

rea ched a high of 59 to 61 cents per pound in April and in August, and closed the year at 55 to 56 cents per pound. Resource Recyclingpublished a monthly transaction price for aluminum UBC’s in its Container Recycling Report. The average annual UBCtransaction price for 1997 was 60.3 cents per pound, a moderateincrease from the 1996 annual average of 54.7 cents per pound. The yearend indicator prices, as published in AMM, for selected secondary aluminum ingots also increased compared with those of 1996 andwere as follows: alloy 380 (1% zinc content), 81.31 cents per pound; alloy 360 (0.6% copper content), 86.53
cents per pound; alloy 413 (0.6% copper content), 86.35 cents per pound; and alloy 319, 84.71 cents per pound. Platt’s Metals Week publishedan annual average U.S. price of 75.5 cents per pound for A-380 alloy (3% zinc content). The average annual LME cash price for a similar 380 alloy was 66 cents per pound.

Foreign Trade

Totalexports of aluminum from the United States increased in 1997 compared with those of 1996. Although exports of crude metaland alloys decreased, semifabricated materials and scrap exports increased compared with those of 1996. Canada, Mexico,ALUMINUM—1997

5.4 

## andJapan, in decreasing order of shipments, accounted for almost two-thirds of total U.S. exports. (See tables 8 and 9.) Imports for consumption increased in 1997, reversing a downwardtrend that began in 1995. Canada remained the major source country, supplying about two-thirds of total imports. Russia remained the second largest supplier of aluminum materials. Imports of crude metal and alloys from Russia have stabilizedin the 400,000-ton-per-year range over the last 3 years, follow ing the rapid growth in shipments that occurred between 1991 and 1994. (See tables 10 and 11.)

World Review

Worldproduction of primary aluminum metal increased 3% in 1997 compared with that of 1996. (See table 12.) Strong demand for primary aluminum, tight supply, and rising premiums characterizedthe U.S. and European markets. By contrast, the financial turmoil in Asia began to take its toll on that area’s aluminum market during the latter part of the year. As the financial and economic crises in Asia spread, the LME prices also

cameunder pressure and began a downward slide in September that continued through the endof the year; this occurred despite a decrease in world inventories and strong growth in demand in the United States and Western Europe. Unwrought

primary aluminum inventories held by members of theIPAI decreased from 1.69 million tons at yearend 1996 to 1.64 million tons at yearend 1997. IPAI total metal inventories, including secondary aluminum, increased from 3.14 million tons at yearend 1996 to 3.16 million tons at yearend 1997. Inventories of primary aluminum metal held by the LME decre ased steadily during the first half of the year, increased briefly during the late summer and early autumn, before continuing its downward trend. By the end of the year, inventories haddecreased to 622,000 tons from 951,000 tons at the end of 1996. Australia .—Comalco Ltd. reported the commissioning of a thirdpotline at its Boyne Island primary aluminum smelter. The $740million project included the construction of a new potline of 264 cells, a carbon-baking furnace, additional metal casting facilities and auxiliary equipment. The expansion was completed 6 months ahead of schedule and increased annual capacity at the smelter from 260,000 tons per year to 490,000 tons per year, making the smelter one of the largest in the world (van Os, 1997). Tomago Aluminium Co. Pty. Ltd. reported that work was continuing on the upgrade of existing potlines at its 380,000-tonper-year smelter in New South Wales. Upon completion of the work in mid-1998, the annual capacity of the primary aluminum smelter would increase to 440,000 tons. Tomago also announced thatthe joint-venture partners were looking at the feasibility of adding a fourth potline at Tomago that could increase capacity at thesmelter to 660,000 tons per year by 2003 (Metal Bulletin, 1997d). Brazil .—AlcanAluminium Ltd. announced that it would invest approximately $350 million over the next 3 years to expand and modernizealuminum rolling operations in Brazil to serve the rapidlygrowing South American market for aluminum beverage cans. In a two-phase expansion program, Alcan’s Brazilian sub sidiary, Alcan Alumínio do Brasil S.A. (Alcanbrasil), will morethan double production capacity at its Pindamonhangaba (Pinda) aluminum sheet rolling facility from 100,000 tons per year to 250,000 tons per year. The existing Pinda plant is already the largest aluminum rolling operation in Latin America and the onlyone capable of producing beverage can sheet. The first phase of the expansion will involve the installation of a tandem finishing mill for the existing hot mill and should be operational within2 years. The second phase will include the addition of a secondcold-rolling mill and associated equipment and is targeted for startup in 2000 (Alcan Aluminium Ltd., 1997b). As part of the expansionproject, Alcanbrasil also constructed a 30,000-ton-peryear UBC recycling facility that was commissioned in February 1998 (Alcan Aluminium Ltd., 1998). Canada .—Alcanannounced its decision to proceed with the de velopment of a new 375,000-ton-per-year primary aluminum smelter at Alma, Quebec. Preliminary planning for this $1.6- billion project was completed during 1997. Environmental clearancefor the project was obtained from the Government of Quebec, and a long-term contract was reached for the supply of electricity from Hydro-Québec. Work at the site beganin March 1998 and the first aluminum productionwas expected in the fall of 2000 (Alcan Aluminium Ltd., 1998). Alcanalso announced the restart of 22,000 tons per year of capacityat its primary aluminum smelter in Kitimat, British Columbia, which would return the smelter to its full operating capacityof 272,000 tons per year. The restart, which began in November, was one element of a legal agreement with the Government of British Columbia to settlethe outstanding issues relatedto the Kemano Completion (hydroelectric) Project (Alcan Aluminium Ltd., 1998). WabashAlloys moved into a new secondary aluminum smelter complex in Mississauga, Ontario, which replaces its Toronto facility. The new smelter has an initial monthly capacity of 5,400 tons (12 million pounds) of specification aluminum alloys. The companyreported that, if demand increased, the smelter capacity would beexpanded to 9,100 tons (20 million pounds) per month (Worden, 1997d). China .—Alcan and China National Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Corp. announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to complete a detailed feasibility study on a proposedprimary aluminum smelter and power complex at Hejin City, Shanxi Province. The project has received the consent of all relevantgovernment departments and has been approved by the StatePlanning Commission. The feasibility study on the 240,000- ton-per-year

smelter and dedicated power complex was expected to take approximately 12 to 18 months to complete (Alcan Aluminium Ltd., 1997a). Shanghai Sigma Metals, China’s largest secondary aluminum producer, announced plans to increase capacity at its secondary smelter in Shanghai from 7,000 tons per month to 11,000 tons per monthof aluminum alloy ingot by the end of 1998. The company is a joint venture between Taiwan’s Sigma Brothers Inc. and the localShanghai government. Most of the alloy produced at this plant is destined for the automotive industry in Japan (Reed, 1997). Dubai .—DubaiAluminium Co. (Dubal) completed a $503- millionexpansion of its primary aluminum smelter 8 weeks ahead of schedule. The expansion project included a new 240-cellALUMINUM—1997 5.5 

## potline, two new gas turbines, improvements to the carbon plant, and the construction of a new casthouse. The potline cell technologywas developed jointly by Dubal and Comalco. The additionof this fifth potline increased capacity at the smelter from 245,000 tons per year to 375,000 tons per year (Metal Bulletin Monthly, 1997). Egypt .—Atthe end of October, the Aluminium Co. of Egypt (Egyptalum) completed the installation of its new 50,000-ton-peryear potline at the Nag Hammadi primary aluminum smelter. This sixth potline, with 92 prebaked cells, increased capacity at thesmelter to 230,000 tons per year. Egyptalum announced plans
togradually convert the smelter’s original five Soderberg potlines
toprebake technology over the next 5 years. Upon completion, the conversion was expected to add 60,000 to 70,000 tons of annual capacity to the smelter (Karpel, 1997). France .—Inmid-September, Pechiney announced plans to restart all of the company’s 125,000 tons of idled primary aluminumproduction capacity by the end of 1998. By the end of 1997, capacity restarts of approximately 25,000 tons per year had take n place at the Bécancour smelter in Canada and the SaintJean-de Maurienne smelter in France. The remaining idledcapacity is split between another potline at Saint-Jean-deMaurienne, two more smelters in France, one in the Netherlands, and one in Greece (Mining Journal, 1997b). Hung ary .—AluminumCompany of America (Alcoa) opened a new plant in Székesfehérvár, 80 kilometers southwest of Budapest, for the production of forged aluminum truck wheels. The plant was designed to serve Alcoa’s European truck wheel customers and those in Brazil and Australia who require European-stylewheels (Aluminum Company of America, 1998). Iceland .—Icelandic Aluminium Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Alusuisse-Lonza

Holding AG, officially opened a third potline at its Straumsvik primary aluminum smelter. The new 160-cell potlineincreased the smelter’s annual capacity from 100,000 tons to 162,000 tons (Hotter, 1997). Iran .—I n June, the first 30,000 tons per year of capacity was commissionedat Almahdi Aluminium Corp.’s greenfield smelter in Bandar Abbas. Capacity at the smelter was expected to be increased gradually until the 110,000-ton-per-year potline was fullycommissioned. A second 110,000-ton-per year potline has been planned (Metal Bulletin, 1997c). Japan .—Japan’s aluminum can recycling rate hit a record high of 70.2% in the year ended March 31, up from 65.7% in the previous 12-monthperiod. The Japan Aluminum Can Recycling Association estimated that 190,000 tons of aluminum cans wererecycled

versus total sales of 271,000 tons of aluminum cans (American Metal Market, 1997e). Mexico .—WabashAlloys has begun construction of a new secondaryaluminum smelter at Monclova in northern Mexico witha planned capacity of 2,700 tons (6 million pounds) per monthof aluminum alloys, to be expanded to between 4,500 and 5,400 tons (10 to 12 million pounds) per month, if demand increases. The smelter is scheduled to begin production in the first half of 1998. Wabash also announced that it has negotiated a 10- year contract with Teksid Aluminio de Mexico to provide molten 31 9 alloy to Teksid’s foundry located near the new smelter (Platt’s Metals Week, 1997f). Nigeria .—The Aluminium Smelting Co. of Nigeria (Alscon) announcedthat production has begun at its 193,000-ton-per-year Ikot Abasi primaryaluminum smelter. Startup of one line began in late 1997, and it was operating at 16% of its 96,500-ton-peryear capacity at yearend. Alscon is joint venture between the Nigerian government(70%), Ferrostaal AG of Germany (20%), and Reynolds Metals (10%) (Reynolds Metals Co., 1998). Norway .—Norsk

Hydro AS announced that it planned to restart all previously idled primary aluminum smelting capacity (70,000 tons per year) by the end of 1997. In addition, brownfield expansions at the Karmøy smelter (35,000 tons per year) and Årdal smelter (12,000 tons per year) were expected to be operationalby the end of the year. Capacity at these two smelters would increase to 267,000 tons per year at Karmøy and 204,000 tons per year at Årdal (Nurse, 1997). Romani a .—The 265,000-ton-per-year primary aluminum smelter, Alro Slatina, has completed the first phase of its modernization program. With the technological support of Pechiney, the upgrade of one potline reduced environmental emissions and raised dust extraction efficiency from 68% to 98%. Asecond potline is scheduled to be upgraded, and there are plans
tomodernize the entire plant, decreasing power consumption and gas emissions, by 2005 (Standish, 1997). Russia .—AluminProductImpEx Ltd., a joint-venture company formed by Reynolds and Sayansk Aluminium Zavod, has signed

an agreement to supply primary aluminum ingot to Samara MetallurgicalCompany (Sameco) for conversion into beverage

canstock. The agreement calls for AluminProduct to supply primary aluminum to Sameco’s rolling plant in Samara where it willbe manufactured initially into aluminum can end, tab, and body stock for customers in Asia and the Middle East. AluminProductalso plans to ship can stock to customers in the Commonwealthof Independent States as the aluminum beverage can industry develops there (Reynolds Metals Co., 1997). South Africa .—Gencor

of South Africa announced that it will
restructureits assets into two separate companies by transferring its base metal and coal assets to a new company to be called BillitonPlc. and retaining its precious metals assets in Gencor Ltd. The new Billiton will be listed on the London Stock exchangeand will have an international portfolio held in six main divisions: aluminum, steel and ferroalloys, coal, titanium, base metals, and nickel (Mining Journal, 1997a). Alusaf Ltd., a subsidiary of Billiton, is conducting a feasibility studyfor the environmental upgrade of potrooms B and C at its 170,000-ton-per-year

Bayside smelter. Potroom A has already beenmodernized to meet environmental standards. The company is also reported to be upgrading the casthouse at Bayside to producevalue-added products such as rolling slab, extrusion billet, electrical conductor rods, and rim alloy (Metal Bulletin, 1997a). Spain .—After approval by the European Commission andthe Spanishgovernment, Alcoa completed the purchase of Inespal S.A., the state-owned aluminum producer. The purchase includes substantially all of

Inespal’s businesses (Aluminum Company of America, 1998). The businesses include the 1.1-million-ton-peryear alumina refinery at San Ciprian; three primary aluminum smelters, at San Ciprian, La Coruna, and Aviles, with a combined capacity of 365,000 tons per year; three rolling mills, at Amorebieta, Alicante, and Sabinanigo, with a combined capacityALUMINUM—1997

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## of 220,000 tons per year; two extrusion plants, at Noblejas and La Coruna, with a combined annual capacity of 29,000 tons, and an administrative center in Madrid (Aluminum Company of America, 1997). Thailand .—Mitsubishi Aluminum Co. and Muang-Thong AluminiumIndustry Co. have formed a joint venture to construct and manage a plant near Bangkok that will produce extruded aluminum heat exchanger components for the automotive industry. Initially, the new company, Muang-Max (Thailand) Co., willhave a capacity of 180 tons per month when commercial production begins in mid-1998 (Metal Bulletin, 1997b). United Kingdom .—The recycling rate for aluminum UBC’s in 1996 increased to 31%, according to the Aluminium Can Recycling Association, London. Approximately 1.5 billion UBC’s, or about 24,000 tons, were collected for recycling (American Metal Market, 1997a).

Outlook

Despite the economic crisis in Asia, which began in 1997, the demand for aluminum inthe United States and Western Europe continues to show strength. U.S. demand remains strong and demandin Western Europe has been described as stable. World productionis expected to increase as previously idled capacity continues to come back on-stream and smelter expansions are being planned or initiated. Based on the growth indicators for the aluminum industry, prior to the downturns in the Asian economies, an increase in world production capacity appeared to be required in the next couple of years. Now, however, the timetablefor these increases may have to be adjusted outward until the demand for aluminum in the Asian markets recovers.

References Cited

33 Metal Producing, 1997, Noranda’s smelter modernization detailed: 33 Metal Producing, v. 35, no. 10, p. 16. AlcanAluminium Ltd., 1997a, Alcan Aluminium Limited announces signing of a memorandum

of understanding on feasibility study for Chinese smelter and power complex: Montreal, Canada, Alcan Aluminium Ltd. press release, November 27, 1 p. ———1997b, Alcan Aluminium Limited announces US$350-million investment in Brazil: Montreal, Canada, Alcan Aluminium Ltd. press release, April 22, 1 p. ———1998, Alcanannual report 1997: Montreal, Canada, Alcan Aluminium Ltd., 65 p. AlumaxInc., 1997a, Alumax Extrusions to expand capacity with model plant built for the future: Atlanta, GA, Alumax news, October 2, 2 p. ———1997b, Alumax invests $18 million in aluminum billet expansion: Atlanta, GA, Alumax news, September 16, 2 p. Aluminum

Company of America, 1997, Alcoa to acquire Spanish aluminum producer Inespal: Pittsburgh, PA, Aluminum Companyof America press release, July 29, 1 p.

——— 1998, Alcoa annual report 1997: Pittsburgh, PA, Aluminum Company of America, 63 p. AmericanMetal Market, 1997a, British UBC recycling climbs for eighth year: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 106, June 3, p. 10. ———1997b, Contech starts work on new die-casting plant: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 89, May 8, p. 6. ———1997c, Crown Cork takes over Golden: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 45, March 6, p. 12. ———1997d, Imco closes deal on Imsamet purchase: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 17, January 24, p. 7. ———1997e, Japan’s can recycling rate hits record high: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 118, June 19, p. 7. Furukawa, Tsukasa, 1997, Mitsui sets opening of US die cast plant: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 82, April 29, p. 2. Hotter, Andrea, 1997, More from the land of ice and fire: Metal Bulletin Monthly, no. 324, December, p. 64-67. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 1997a, Accuride and Kaiser Aluminum formalize partnership to form AKW L.P.: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press release, May 5, 2 p. ———1997b, Kaiser Aluminum to consolidate forgings business into two facilities, resultingin shut down of forgings operations at Erie, Pennsylvania, plant; separatejoint venture to continue at Erie: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press release, July 21, 2 p. Karpel, Steve, 1997, Egyptalum prepares for new markets: Metal Bulletin Monthly, no. 318, June, p. 62-64. MetalBulletin, 1997a, Alusaf conducts feasibility study at Bayside: Metal Bulletin, no. 8228, November 13, p. 5. ———1997b, Extrusion joint venture to enter Thailand: Metal Bulletin, no. 8184, June 5, p. 6. ———1997c, Rafsanjani inaugurates Almahdi smelter: Metal Bulletin, no. 8186, June 12, p. 5. ———1997d, Tomago considering fourth potline: Metal Bulletin, no. 8233, December 1, p. 5. ———1997e, Wabash Alloys secures US Reduction at auction: Metal Bulletin, no. 8234, December 4, p. 11. MetalBulletin Monthly, 1997, Falcon project on stream ahead of time: Metal Bulletin Monthly, no. 315, March, p. 12-15. MiningJournal, 1997a, New Billiton to acquire QNI: Mining Journal, v. 328, no. 8434, June 20, p. 481-482. ———1997b, Pechiney restart plan: Mining Journal, v. 329, no. 8459, December 12, p. 487. Nurse, Milton, 1997, Hydro continues to grow: Metal Bulletin Monthly Supplement, September, p. 41-45. Ormet Primary Aluminum Corp., 1997, Ormet Primary Aluminum Corp. announces 10-year energy management agreement with CNG: Wheeling, WV, Ormet Primary Aluminum Corp. press release, June 17, 1 p. Platt’s Metals Week, 1997a, Aluminum sheet mill JW Aluminum to expand 60%: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 68, no. 29, July 21, p. 10. ———1997b, Imco Recycling to acquire US secondary Alchem Aluminum: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 68, no. 38, September 22, p. 11-12. ———1997c, Noranda labor deal assures customers: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 68, no. 13, March 31, p. 9-10. ———1997d, Roth Brothers sold to Philip, new aluminum powerhouse: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 68, no. 28, July 14, p. 4. ———1997e, US secondary Wabash buys US Reduction’s Tipton plant: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 68, no. 38, September 22, p. 12-13. ———1997f, Wabash Alloys plans Mexican smelter near Teksid: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 68, no. 8, February 24, p. 2, 10. Reed, Camila, 1997, Sigma Metals to expand secondary aluminium output: Metal Bulletin, no. 8225, November 3, p. 12. Reynolds Metals Co., 1997, Reynolds Metals joint venture company and Sameco sign agreement

to produce beverage can stock: Richmond, VA, Reynolds Metals Co. press release, September 26, 1 p. ———1998, Reynolds Metals Co. 10-K report 1997: Securities and Exchange Commission, 77 p. Standish, Alex, 1997, Alro proceeds with smelter modernization: Metal Bulletin, no. 8190, June 26, p. 6.

van Os, John, 1997, Boyne Island expansion starts up: Metal Bulletin Monthly Supplement, September, p. 23-27. Worden, Edward, 1997a, Imco to acquire Rock Creek: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 4, January 7, p. 10. ———1997b, OmniSource picks Indiana smelter site: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 130, July 8, p. 9.ALUMINUM—1997 5.7

———1997c, Secondary smelter joins crowd: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 118, June 19, p. 1. ———1997d, Wabash Alloys moving to new Ontario facility: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 8, January 13, p. 8. Wrigley, Al, 1997a, Detroit still finding aluminum add-ons: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 165, August 26, p. 1, 9. ———1997b, Ryobi boosts capacity for aluminum castings: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 180, September 17, p. 2. ———1997c, US smelter planned by Japanese group: American Metal Market, v. 105, no. 102, May 28, p. 1.



## SOURCES OF INFORMATION

U.S. Geological Survey Publications

Aluminum. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries, annual. 1 

## Aluminum. Mineral Industry Surveys, monthly. 1 

## Aluminumand Bauxite. Ch. in United States mineral resources, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 820, 1973. Bauxiteand Alumina. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries, annual. 1 

## Bauxite and Alumina. Mineral Industry Surveys, quarterly. 1 

## Worldbauxite resources, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1076-B, 1986.

Other

AluminumAssociation Inc. Aluminum Statistical Review, annual. Alumina Plants Worldwide, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1993. Bauxite Mines Worldwide, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1994. Primary Aluminum Plants Worldwide, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1990.

1 Prior to January 1996, published by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.TABLE 1 SALIENT ALUMINUM STATISTICS 1/

(Thousand metric tons, unless otherwise specified)

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 United States: Primary production 3,695 3,299 3,375 3,577 3,603 Value (million dollars) $4,340 $5,180 $6,390 $5,630 $6,120 Price (average cents per pound) U.S. market (spot) 53.3 71.2 85.9 71.3 77.1 Inventories (December 31) Aluminum industry 2/ 1,980 2,070 2,000 1,860 r/ 1,880 LME stocks in U.S. warehouses 168 16 14 12 (3/) National Defense Stockpile 57 57 57 57 (3/) Secondary recovery 4/ 2,940 3,090 3,190 3,310 r/ 3,690 New scrap 1,310 1,580 1,680 1,730 r/ 2,160 Old scrap 1,630 1,500 1,510 1,580 r/ 1,530 Exports (crude and semicrude) 1,210 1,370 1,610 1,500 1,570 Imports for consumption (crude and semicrude) 2,540 3,380 2,980 r/ 2,810 3,080 Aluminum industry shipments 5/ 7,300 8,160 8,260 8,330 r/ 8,880 Supply, apparent 6/ 7,920 8,460 8,010 8,330 r/ 8,850 Consumption, apparent 7/ 6,600 6,880 6,320 6,600 r/ 6,690 World: Production 19,800 19,200 19,700 r/ 20,800 r/ 21,400 e/ e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. 1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits, except "Primary production" and "prices." 2/ Includes ingot, semifabricated material, and scrap. Data from Current Industrial Reports, Series M33-D, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 3/ Less than 1/2 unit. 4/ Metallic recovery from purchased, tolled, or imported new and old scrap expanded for full industry coverage. 5/ Shipped to domestic industry. 6/ Defined as domestic primary metal production + secondary recovery + imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 7/ Apparent supply less recovery from purchased new scrap.TABLE 2 PRIMARY ANNUAL ALUMINUM PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN THE UNITED STATES, BY COMPANY 1/

Yearend capacity (thousand metric tons) Company 1996 1997 1997 ownership (percent) Alcan Aluminum Corp.: Sebree, KY 186 186 Alcan Aluminum Ltd., 100%. Alumax Inc.: Ferndale, WA (Intalco) 272 272 Alumax Inc., 61%; Mitsui & Co., 23%; TosTem Corp., 9%; YKK Corp., 7%. Frederick, MD (Eastalco) 174 174 Do. Mount Holly, SC 205 205 Alumax, 50.3%; Century Aluminum Co., 26.7%; Glencore Total 651 651 Primary Aluminum Co., 23%. Aluminum Co. of America: 2/ Alcoa, TN 210 210 Aluminum Co. of America, 100%. Badin, NC 115 115 Do. Evansville, IN (Warrick) 300 300 Do. Massena, NY 125 125 Do. Rockdale, TX 315 315 Do. Wenatchee, WA 220 220 Do. Total 1,290 1,290 Century Aluminum Co.: Ravenswood, WV 168 168 Century Aluminum Co., 100%. Columbia Falls Aluminum Co.: Columbia Falls, MT 168 168 Montana Aluminum Investors Corp., 100%. Goldendale Aluminum Co.: Goldendale, WA 160 r/ 160 Private interest, 60%; employees, 40%. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp.: Mead, WA (Spokane) 200 200 MAXXAM Inc., 100%. Tacoma, WA 73 73 Do. Total 273 273 NSA: Hawesville, KY 186 186 Southwire Co., 100%. Noranda Aluminum Inc.: New Madrid, MO 215 215 Noranda Mines Ltd., 100%. Northwest Aluminum Corp.: The Dalles, OR 82 82 Private interests, 100%. Ormet Corp.: Hannibal, OH 256 256 Ormet Corp., 100%. Reynolds Metals Co.: Longview, WA 204 204 Reynolds Metals Co., 100%. Massena, NY 123 123 Do. Troutdale, OR 121 121 Do. Total 448 448 Vanalco Inc.: Vancouver, WA 116 116 Vanalco Inc., 100%. Grand total 4,190 r/ 4,190 r/ Revised. 1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Individual plant capacities 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, 1/ BY CLASS 2/

(Metric tons)

Calculated recovery Class Consumption Aluminum Metallic 1996: Secondary smelters 1,460,000 r/ 1,050,000 r/ 1,120,000 r/ Integrated aluminum companies 1,410,000 1,170,000 1,250,000 Independent mill fabricators 709,000 613,000 654,000 r/ Foundries 95,300 78,500 84,400 Other consumers 9,910 8,730 8,770 r/ Total 3,680,000 r/ 2,920,000 r/ 3,120,000 r/ Estimated full industry coverage 3,910,000 r/ 3,090,000 r/ 3,310,000 r/ 1997: Secondary smelters 1,750,000 1,240,000 1,330,000 Integrated aluminum companies 1,470,000 1,230,000 1,310,000 Independent mill fabricators 812,000 707,000 756,000 Foundries 73,900 60,700 65,400 Other consumers 10,300 9,440 9,470 Total 4,120,000 3,240,000 3,470,000 Estimated full industry coverage 4,380,000 3,450,000 3,690,000 r/ Revised. 1/ Excludes recovery from other than aluminum-base scrap. 2/ Data are rounded to 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 1997 1/ 2/

(Metric tons)

Stocks, Net Consump- Stocks, Class of consumer and type of scrap Jan. 1 receipts 3/ tion Dec. 31 Secondary smelters: New scrap: Solids 7,440 r/ 272,000 273,000 6,020 Borings and turnings 5,450 r/ 278,000 271,000 11,700 Dross and skimmings 3,320 r/ 417,000 417,000 3,030 Other 4/ 7,950 r/ 223,000 228,000 3,660 Total 24,200 r/ 1,190,000 1,190,000 24,400 Old scrap: Castings, sheet, clippings 22,500 r/ 355,000 353,000 25,000 Aluminum-copper radiators 767 r/ 16,100 15,600 1,290 Aluminum cans 5/ 2,500 r/ 87,600 88,100 1,990 Other 6/ 1,350 r/ 93,400 93,000 1,750 Total 27,100 r/ 552,000 549,000 30,000 Sweated pig 1,240 r/ 11,900 10,700 2,400 Total secondary smelters 52,500 r/ 1,750,000 1,750,000 56,800 Integrated aluminum companies, foundries, independent mill fabricators, other consumers: New scrap: Solids 27,000 r/ 934,000 945,000 16,400 Borings and turnings 376 r/ 28,100 28,200 259 Dross and skimmings 233 r/ 11,000 10,900 347 Other 4/ 11,900 254,000 256,000 9,590 Total 39,500 r/ 1,230,000 1,240,000 26,600 Old scrap: Castings, sheet, clippings 7,210 r/ 239,000 235,000 11,300 Aluminum-copper radiators 528 r/ 9,750 9,760 515 Aluminum cans 26,000 r/ 862,000 861,000 26,700 Other 6/ 480 r/ 16,700 17,100 139 Total 34,200 r/ 1,130,000 1,120,000 38,700 Sweated pig 325 r/ 4,220 4,430 117 Total intergrated aluminum companies, etc. 74,100 2,360,000 2,370,000 65,500 All scrap consumed: New scrap: Solids 34,500 r/ 1,210,000 1,220,000 22,500 Borings and turnings 5,830 r/ 306,000 300,000 11,900 Dross and skimmings 3,550 r/ 428,000 428,000 3,380 Other 4/ 19,800 r/ 477,000 484,000 13,300 Total 63,700 r/ 2,420,000 2,430,000 51,000 Old scrap: Castings, sheet, clippings 29,700 r/ 594,000 587,000 36,300 Aluminum-copper radiators 1,300 r/ 25,900 25,400 1,810 Aluminum cans 28,500 r/ 949,000 949,000 28,700 Other 6/ 1,830 r/ 110,000 110,000 1,890 Total 61,400 r/ 1,680,000 1,670,000 68,700 Sweated pig 1,560 r/ 16,100 15,200 2,520 Total of all scrap consumed 127,000 r/ 4,110,000 4,120,000 122,000 r/ Revised. 1/ Includes imported scrap. According to reporting companies, 17.38% of total receipts of aluminum-base scrap, or 715,173 metric tons, was received on toll arrangements. 2/ Data are rounded to 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 producers 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)

1996 1997 Net Net Production shipments 2/ Production shipments 2/ Diecast alloys: 13% Si, 360, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 75,900 r/ 74,900 r/ 66,100 66,700 380 and variations 486,000 r/ 488,000 r/ 504,000 501,000 Sand and permanent mold: 95/5 Al-Si, 356, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 24,600 r/ 24,500 r/ 36,300 35,100 No. 12 and variations W W W W No. 319 and variations 139,000 r/ 140,000 r/ 157,000 157,000 F-132 alloy and variations 43,100 r/ 42,900 r/ 38,800 38,600 Al-Mg alloys 685 685 639 639 Al-Zn alloys 3,430 3,430 15,900 16,100 Al-Si alloys (0.6% to 2.0% Cu) 9,980 10,600 2,020 2,130 Al-Cu alloys (1.5% Si, maximum) 936 937 925 926 Al-Si-Cu-Ni alloys 1,130 1,110 1,440 1,440 Other 4,180 4,270 12,000 12,200 Wrought alloys, extrusion billets 153,000 152,000 209,000 209,000 Miscellaneous: Steel deoxidation (3/) (3/) (3/) (3/) Pure (97.0% Al)

-- -- (3/) (3/) Aluminum-base hardeners 93 93 6,430 4,770 Other 4/ 82,900 r/ 86,200 r/ 91,400 91,000 Total 1,020,000 r/ 1,030,000 r/ 1,140,000 1,140,000 Less consumption of materials other than scrap: Primary aluminum 46,200 r/

-- 53,000

-- Primary silicon 81,000 r/

-- 47,200

-- Other 4,960 r/

-- 8,410

-- Net metallic recovery from aluminum scrap and sweated pig consumed in production of secondary aluminum ingot 5/ 893,000 r/ XX 1,030,000 XX r/ Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Sand and permanent mold: Other." XX Not applicable. 1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Includes inventory adjustment. 3/ Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Miscellaneous: Other." 4/ Includes other die-cast alloys. 5/ 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/

1996 1997 Quantity Percent Quantity Percent (thousand of (thousand of Industry metric tons) grand total metric tons) grand total Containers and packaging 2,180 22.6 2,220 21.7 Building and construction 1,330 r/ 13.8 1,320 12.9 Transportation 2,640 r/ 27.5 2,990 29.2 Electrical 671 r/ 7.0 708 6.9 Consumer durables 655 r/ 6.8 694 6.8 Machinery and equipment 569 r/ 5.9 626 6.1 Other markets 291 r/ 3.0 318 3.1 Total to domestic users 8,330 r/ 86.6 8,880 86.8 Exports e/ 1,290 13.4 1,360 13.2 Grand total 9,610 r/ 100.0 10,200 100.0 e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. 1/ Data are rounded to 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)

1996 1997 p/ Wrought products: Sheet, plate, foil 4,430 r/ 4,640 Rod, bar, pipe, tube, shapes 1,540 r/ 1,710 Rod, wire, cable 350 r/ 366 Forgings (including impacts) 99 r/ 96 Powder, flake, paste 53 r/ 63 Total 6,480 r/ 6,870 Castings: Sand 180 NA Permanent and semipermanent mold 473 NA Die 612 NA Other 121 NA Total 1,390 NA Grand total 7,860 NA p/ Preliminary. r/ Revised. NA Not available. 1/ Net shipments derived by subtracting the sum of producers' domestic receipts of each mill shape from the domestic industry's gross shipments of that shape. 2/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

Source: 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) 1996: Armenia

-- -- 23 $99

-- -- 23 $99 Brazil 101 $380 22,500 77,100 129 $156 22,800 77,700 Canada 131,000 191,000 352,000 955,000 61,500 63,400 544,000 1,210,000 France 418 1,810 4,070 23,300 24 55 4,510 25,100 Georgia

-- -- 7 47

-- -- 7 47 Germany 343 1,170 21,900 30,600 190 216 22,400 31,900 Hong Kong 3,170 6,100 13,200 40,500 41,600 52,800 57,900 99,400 Italy 35 325 3,280 16,400 80 79 3,390 16,800 Japan 188,000 307,000 30,400 168,000 54,900 67,600 273,000 543,000 Korea, Republic of 20,500 36,200 22,000 93,200 37,800 42,400 80,200 172,000 Latvia

-- -- 33 14

-- -- 33 14 Mexico 48,000 80,400 105,000 333,000 17,100 21,300 170,000 435,000 Netherlands 410 432 1,710 8,740 375 458 2,500 9,630 Philippines 1,280 2,130 1,220 6,510 179 123 2,680 8,770 Russia 15 274 1 12

-- -- 16 286 Saudi Arabia 32 40 18,900 53,900

-- -- 18,900 53,900 Singapore 205 873 3,170 12,300 14 18 3,390 13,200 South Africa 13 105 1,500 5,520

-- -- 1,520 5,620 Taiwan 8,650 14,800 12,800 45,700 48,200 42,100 69,600 103,000 Thailand 6,300 11,000 4,680 15,100 868 1,310 11,800 27,500 Turkmenistan

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Ukraine

-- -- 1 19

-- -- 1 19 United Kingdom 706 4,550 18,300 86,700 12,700 17,400 31,700 109,000 Venezuela 46 173 11,600 33,600 418 424 12,100 34,200 Other 8,120 22,600 111,000 382,000 44,300 45,200 164,000 450,000 Total 417,000 682,000 760,000 2,390,000 320,000 355,000 1,500,000 3,420,000 1997: Armenia

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Brazil 90 340 75,600 225,000 13 79 75,700 226,000 Canada 155,000 240,000 394,000 1,080,000 86,700 99,800 636,000 1,420,000 France 287 1,440 5,740 34,100 9 91 6,030 35,600 Georgia

-- -- 3 20

-- -- 3 20 Germany 530 1,750 8,930 34,000 395 400 9,860 36,200 Hong Kong 4,080 7,460 20,800 55,700 31,700 43,300 56,500 106,000 Italy 57 252 3,090 12,000 20 48 3,170 12,300 Japan 95,300 160,000 37,600 162,000 35,400 47,400 168,000 370,000 Korea, Republic of 14,300 27,300 28,600 108,000 33,800 42,600 76,700 178,000 Latvia

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Mexico 63,000 113,000 102,000 293,000 33,400 45,600 198,000 451,000 Netherlands 85 190 1,530 8,350 67 76 1,680 8,610 Philippines 226 415 3,140 11,900 641 403 4,010 12,800 Russia 18 34 41 164 5 22 63 220 Saudi Arabia 42 32 18,100 43,500

-- -- 18,200 43,600 Singapore 190 529 3,220 34,100 107 270 3,510 34,900 South Africa 179 2,720 267 1,580

-- -- 446 4,300 Taiwan 9,070 16,300 14,500 46,800 61,800 64,600 85,400 128,000 Thailand 2,050 3,870 8,480 21,100 1,060 1,650 11,600 26,700 Turkmenistan (3/) 3

-- -- -- -- (3/) 3 Ukraine

-- -- 8 34

-- -- 8 34 United Kingdom 1,460 13,100 14,600 75,600 4,760 9,090 20,800 97,800 Venezuela 96 581 9,740 27,300 383 523 10,200 28,400 Other 5,820 15,600 132,000 471,000 47,300 49,800 185,000 537,000 Total 352,000 606,000 882,000 2,750,000 338,000 406,000 1,570,000 3,760,000 1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Includes castings, forgings, and unclassified semifabricated forms. 3/ Less than 1/2 unit.

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

1996 1997 Quantity Value Quantity Value Class (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) Crude and semicrude: Metals and alloys, crude 417,000 $682,000 352,000 $606,000 Scrap 320,000 355,000 338,000 406,000 Plates, sheets, bars, strip, etc. 703,000 2,130,000 837,000 2,460,000 Castings and forgings 12,200 105,000 10,900 131,000 Semifabricated forms, n.e.c. 44,800 147,000 33,700 155,000 Total 1,500,000 3,420,000 1,570,000 3,760,000 Manufactures: Foil and leaf 99,700 274,000 100,000 298,000 Powders and flakes 6,340 30,800 8,770 35,800 Wire and cable 28,500 104,000 26,500 94,100 Total 134,000 410,000 136,000 428,000 Grand total 1,630,000 3,830,000 1,710,000 4,190,000 1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

Source: Bureau of the Census.

TABLE 10

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

1996 1997 Quantity Value Quantity Value Class (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands) Crude and semicrude: Metals and alloys, crude 1,910,000 $3,040,000 2,060,000 $3,500,000 Plates, sheets, strip, etc., n.e.c. 2/ 428,000 1,050,000 461,000 1,180,000 Pipes, tubes, etc. 11,300 54,300 14,200 72,800 Rods and bars 59,300 179,000 85,800 266,000 Scrap 402,000 460,000 454,000 574,000 Total 2,810,000 4,790,000 3,080,000 5,590,000 Manufactures: Foil and leaf 3/ 57,100 207,000 64,300 231,000 Flakes and powders 1,840 5,920 2,360 6,820 Wire 76,900 148,000 81,800 165,000 Total 136,000 361,000 148,000 403,000 Grand total 2,940,000 5,150,000 3,230,000 6,000,000 1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Includes plates, sheets, circles, and disks. 3/ Excludes etched capacitor foil.

Source: Bureau of the Census.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) 1996: Argentina 1,450 $2,270 1,030 $2,660 3,060 $3,490 5,540 $8,420 Australia 1,080 1,840 1,660 4,470 1,310 1,300 4,050 7,610 Bahrain

-- -- 8,930 20,200

-- -- 8,930 20,200 Belgium 931 1,620 5,560 15,200 80 102 6,570 17,000 Brazil 11,700 18,400 436 1,110 415 515 12,500 20,100 Canada 1,340,000 2,210,000 296,000 674,000 223,000 265,000 1,850,000 3,150,000 Estonia

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- France 1,040 7,130 8,480 35,100 3,950 3,740 13,500 46,000 Germany 1,100 5,080 26,700 112,000 7,840 10,900 35,700 128,000 Italy 25 1,520 9,550 30,700 62 46 9,630 32,200 Japan 353 1,130 10,300 41,700 280 466 11,000 43,300 Kazakstan 18 226

-- -- -- -- 18 226 Mexico 953 1,470 13,300 35,300 73,700 80,600 88,000 117,000 Netherlands 410 766 4,640 15,200 743 962 5,790 16,900 Norway 511 1,660 3,650 7,570

-- -- 4,160 9,230 Russia 402,000 559,000 11,200 21,800 9,750 11,800 423,000 593,000 Slovenia

-- -- 3,510 10,900

-- -- 3,510 10,900 South Africa 2,310 3,870 3,240 7,400 204 230 5,750 11,500 Spain 120 173 19,100 42,100 6 22 19,200 42,300 Tajikistan 20,000 27,400

-- -- -- -- 20,000 27,400 Ukraine 4,300 5,030 8 36

-- -- 4,300 5,070 United Arab Emirates

-- -- -- -- 1,920 2,160 1,920 2,160 United Kingdom 2,130 2,470 18,000 66,900 13,100 15,100 33,200 84,500 Venezuela 116,000 181,000 29,700 56,600 23,600 23,700 169,000 261,000 Other 6,330 8,600 23,000 85,700 38,300 39,900 67,600 134,000 Total 1,910,000 3,040,000 498,000 1,290,000 402,000 460,000 2,810,000 4,790,000 1997: Argentina 13,000 22,000 1,270 2,800 3,680 4,370 18,000 29,200 Australia 1,250 2,030 1,060 2,860 1,340 1,510 3,650 6,400 Bahrain

-- -- 11,800 26,600

-- -- 11,800 26,600 Belgium 321 690 4,600 13,100 140 184 5,060 14,000 Brazil 23,900 39,900 776 2,610 319 356 25,000 42,900 Canada 1,410,000 2,470,000 330,000 803,000 252,000 320,000 2,000,000 3,590,000 Estonia 4 65

-- -- -- -- 4 65 France 386 4,690 10,700 48,700 6,110 6,470 17,200 59,900 Germany 1,020 4,730 38,200 146,000 2,150 4,760 41,400 156,000 Italy 18 63 3,520 12,100 16 5 3,550 12,100 Japan 134 581 19,600 77,900 947 1,640 20,700 80,200 Kazakstan

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Mexico 1,740 3,740 13,200 34,800 84,900 107,000 99,900 145,000 Netherlands 2,370 14,500 4,960 16,800 1,480 2,140 8,810 33,400 Norway 765 2,640 1,660 2,930

-- -- 2,420 5,570 Russia 423,000 653,000 7,640 13,000 4,670 11,600 435,000 678,000 Slovenia

-- -- 3,520 11,700

-- -- 3,520 11,700 South Africa 11,400 18,600 5,550 11,500 809 980 17,800 31,100 Spain 151 307 14,300 32,700 994 1,280 15,400 34,300 Tajikistan 4,030 5,540

-- -- -- -- 4,030 5,540 Ukraine 4,190 6,120 19 60 614 750 4,830 6,930 United Arab Emirates

-- -- -- -- 2,460 2,910 2,460 2,910 United Kingdom 18,700 30,800 19,000 74,300 10,400 14,400 48,000 119,000 Venezuela 114,000 190,000 29,700 59,000 17,100 19,700 161,000 269,000 Other 28,900 32,200 40,300 123,000 63,900 73,800 133,000 229,000 Total 2,060,000 3,500,000 561,000 1,520,000 454,000 574,000 3,080,000 5,590,000 1/ Data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Includes circles, disks, rods, pipes, tubes, etc.

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

(Thousand metric tons)

Country 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 e/ Argentina 173 r/ 175 r/ 186 r/ 186 r/ 185 Australia 1,381 1,317 1,297 1,372 1,495 3/ Azerbaijan e/ 20 15 10 10 10 Bahrain 448 447 451 461 r/ 480 Bosnia and Herzegovina e/ 4/ 15 10 10 10 15 Brazil 1,172 1,185 1,188 1,195 r/ 1,200 Cameroon e/ 87 89 3/ 79 r/ 82 r/ 82 Canada 2,308 2,255 2,172 2,283 r/ 2,327 3/ China e/ 1,220 1,450 1,680 r/ 1,770 r/ 2,000 Croatia 4/ 26 26 31 38 r/ 35 Egypt 178 188 180 r/ 177 r/ 177 France 426 438 r/ 372 r/ 380 r/ 390 Germany 552 505 575 576 r/ 575 Ghana 175 141 135 137 152 3/ Greece 148 144 144 r/ 141 r/ 145 Hungary 28 31 25 e/

-- r/

-- Iceland 5/ 94 99 100 104 104 India 6/ 466 472 537 r/ 531 r/ 494 3/ Indonesia 6/ 206 222 220 e/ 225 e/ 200 Iran e/ 109 3/ 116 118 118 118 Italy 156 176 198 r/ 184 r/ 185 Japan 7/ 18 17 18 17 17 Mexico 6/

-- -- 10 61 r/ 65 Netherlands 232 219 216 227 r/ 230 New Zealand 277 269 r/ 273 285 r/ 305 Norway 887 857 r/ 847 863 r/ 919 3/ Poland 8/ 47 50 56 52 e/ 55 Romania 9/ 116 120 r/ 141 r/ 141 r/ 140 Russia 2,820 2,670 2,724 r/ 2,874 r/ 2,906 3/ Serbia and Montenegro 4/ 26 7 17 37 r/ 65 Slovakia e/ 6/ 39 r/ 33 r/ 31 r/ 35 r/ 35 Slovenia 4/ 83 r/ 77 r/ 58 r/ 60 r/ e/ 60 South Africa 175 172 195 r/ 617 r/ e/ 660 Spain 364 r/ 338 361 r/ 362 362 Suriname 30 27 r/ 28 r/ 32 32 Sweden 82 84 95 98 98 Switzerland 36 24 21 27 27 Tajikistan 250 e/ 235 232 r/ 198 189 Turkey 59 60 62 62 r/ 60 Ukraine e/ 100 100 98 3/ 90 r/ 101 3/ United Arab Emirates: Dubai 242 247 240 e/ 251 r/ 250 United Kingdom 239 231 238 240 240 United States 3,695 3,299 3,375 3,577 3,603 3/ Venezuela 568 585 630 635 r/ 640 Total 19,800 19,200 19,700 r/ 20,800 r/ 21,400 e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. 1/ World totals and estimated data are rounded to three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2/ Primary aluminum is defined as "The weight of liquid aluminum as tapped from pots, excluding the weight of any alloying materials as well as that of any metal produced from either returned scrap or remelted materials." International reporting practices vary from country to country, some nations conforming to the foregoing definition and others using different definitions. For those countries for which a different definition is given specifically in the source publication, that definition is provided in this table by footnote. Table includes data available through May 11, 1998. 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: 1993--20,300; 1994--23,800; 1995--28,400; 1996--29,400 (revised); and 1997--29,000 (estimated). 8/ Primary unalloyed ingot plus secondary unalloyed ingot. 9/ Primary unalloyed metal plus primary alloyed metal, thus including weight of alloying material.