ALUMINUM—1999 5.1



# ALUMINUM

By Patricia A. Plunkert

Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Micheal George, statistical assistant, and the world production table was prepared by Linder Roberts, international data coordinator.

In 1999, 12 domestic companies operated 23 primary aluminum reduction plants that produced almost 3.8 million metric tons (Mt) of metal. Montana, Oregon, and Washington accounted for 39% of the production; Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia, 22%; and other States, 39%. The value was estimated to be $5.5 billion. During the year, two proposed mergers that involved five major aluminum companies were announced—a two-way merger between Alcoa Inc. and Reynolds Metals Company and a three-way merger of Alcan Aluminium Limited, Pechiney, and algroup, which was the aluminum division of Alusuisse Lonza Group Inc. Aluminum recovered from purchased scrap increased by 9% to about 3.75 Mt. Of this recovered metal, 59% came from new (manufacturing) scrap, and 41%, from old (discarded aluminum products) scrap. Aluminum used beverage can (UBC) scrap accounted for more than one-half of the reported old scrap consumption in 1999. The recycling rate for aluminum UBC’s remained relatively stable at 62.5%. The transportation and the container and packaging industries remained the largest domestic markets for aluminum products in 1999. The transportation industry accounted for 37% of domestic consumption; containers and packaging, 24%; building and construction, 15%; consumer durables, 8%; electrical, 7%; and other uses, 9%. U.S. imports for consumption continued to increase significantly in 1999. During the last 3 years, imports increased by 43%. Canada remained the largest shipper of aluminum materials to the United States, and imports of crude metal and alloys from Russia reached an all-time high. Total exports from the United States increased slightly in 1999. The price of primary ingot on the domestic and the international markets trended upward during the year, thus reversing the yearlong downward trend in 1998. The 1999 monthly average domestic price increased by almost 16 cents per pound from January to December. The annual average, however, was relatively stable compared with that of the previous year. At the end of 1999, world inventories, as reported by the International Primary Aluminium Institute (IPAI), decreased compared with those of the previous year. Inventories of primary metal held by the London Metal Exchange Ltd. (LME) increased, whereas inventories of aluminum alloy decreased. Primary aluminum was produced in 44 countries in 1999. The United States was the largest producer with 16% of the world total, followed by Russia with 14%, China with an estimated 11%, and Canada with 10%. World primary metal production increased by about 3% compared with that of 1998. Industry Structure—Mergers

On August 19, Alcoa and Reynolds announced that they had reached a definitive merger agreement under which Alcoawould acquire all outstanding shares of Reynolds in a stock-forstock transaction. Alcoa, which was the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina, had 215 operating locations in 31 countries. Revenues for all of 1999 were $16.3 billion (Alcoa Inc, 2000b, p. 56). Reynolds, which was the third largest aluminum company in the world, employed approximately 18,000 people at more than 100 locations in 24 countries. Reynolds revenues in 1999 were $4.8 billion (Reynolds Metals Company, 2000, p. 20). The merger was dependent upon the approval of Reynold’s shareholders, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the European Union (EU) (Alcoa Inc., 1999e). On May 3, 2000, Alcoa and Reynolds announced that the DOJ and the EU had approved their proposed merger and that the merger had been completed. Reynolds shareholders had approved the merger on February 11. Under the terms of the consent decree entered into with the DOJ and an undertaking agreement with the EU, Alcoa will sell a 25% interest in Reynolds’ Longview, WA, smelter, as well as Reynolds’ interests in three alumina refineries—Worsley, Australia (56%); Stade, Germany (50%); and Sherwin, TX (100%). As a result of the merger, each outstanding share of Reynolds
common stock was converted into 1.06 shares of Alcoa common stock (Alcoa Inc., 2000a). On August 11, 1999, Alcan, Pechiney, and algroup announced that they had reached agreement on the principal terms of a proposed merger of the three companies. The combined company, if approved, would be called A.P.A. and would employ approximately 91,000 people in 59 countries. In 1999, Alcan, algroup, and Pechiney had combined sales and operating revenues of $18.9 billion (Alcan Aluminium Limited, 2000c, p. 66; algroup, 2000, p. 34; Pechiney, 2000, p. 161). On completion of the proposed merger, Alcan shareholders would hold 44% of the share capital of A.P.A.; Pechiney, 29%; and algroup, 27%. The merger was subject to approval by the companies’ shareholders, the DOJ, and the EU (Alcan Aluminium Limited, 1999d, p. 1). On April 13, 2000, the three companies announced their decision to withdraw the previously announced three-way merger plan and to terminate their Combination Agreement insofar as Pechiney was concerned. The companies had been unable to receive regulatory approval from either the DOJ or the EU. According to the companies, the required divestmentsU.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—1999

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## for approval would have threatened the economic viability of the proposed three-way merger. The Combination Agreement between Alcan and algroup, however, remained in effect with respect to their proposed two-way merger (Alcan Aluminium Limited, 2000d). On April 21, Alcan reported that the applicable waiting period under U.S. antitrust regulations had expired and, consequently, that there was no U.S. antitrust barrier to proceeding with the Alcan-algroup merger (Alcan Aluminium Limited, 2000a). The EU gave its approval subject to commitments made by the companies to alleviate the EU’s competition concerns in the aluminum trihydrate (ATH) market. Among its commitments, Alcan proposed selling algroup’s ATH facility in Martinswerk, Germany, and the algroup lithography operations in Bridgenorth, United Kingdom (Platt’s Metals Week, 2000). On June 1, the companies announced that they had reached agreement on their revised merger plan. Pending shareholder approval, the merger will involve the combination of a cash payment and the exchange of 17.1 Alcan common shares for every algroup share. The combined sales and operating revenues of the two companies in 1999 was $12.3 billion (Alcan Aluminium Limited, 2000c, p. 66; algroup, 2000, p. 34). Alcan, which was a leading producer of primary metal and rolled products, had operations in more than 30 countries with some 30,000 employees. Algroup, which was one of Switzerland’s largest corporations, employed more than 23,000 people who were engaged in aluminum and packaging activities in 18 countries (Alcan Aluminum Limited, 2000b).

Production

Primary.—Domestic primary aluminum production, which totaled a reported 3,778,608 metric tons (t), increased by 2% compared with that of 1998 (table 1). Production data were obtained from the 12 domestic producers, all of whom responded to the request from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for data. There was also a slight increase in domestic production capacity (table 2). Glencore AG acquired Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., which operated a 168,000-metric-ton-per-year (t/yr) primary aluminum smelter in Columbia Falls, MT. Prior to the acquisition, Glencore and Pechiney split production (50-50) from the smelter under a 5-year tolling agreement that will expire in October 2000 (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999h). In October, members of the Aluminium Workers’ Trades Council AFL-CIO at Columbia Falls signed a new 5-year labor agreement, which replaced the previous agreement that expired on October 15. Under the new contract, improvements were made to the employees’ health insurance and retirement programs, and hourly wages were increased (Metal Bulletin, 1999f). Mitsui & Co. Ltd. increased its share in the Ferndale, WA, and Frederick, MD, primary aluminum smelters with its purchase of TosTem Corp.’s 9% interest in the plants. After the purchase, ownership of the plants was Alcoa, 61%; Mitsui, 32%; and YKK Corp., 7% (CRU Aluminium Monitor, 1999). Southwire Co. began producing metal from the new fifth potline at its NSA primary aluminum smelter in Hawesville, KY. The 50,000-t/yr potline, which was expected to be fully operational by the end of the year, will increase the smelter’s capacity to 237,000 t/yr (Metal Bulletin, 1999g). Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. announced the restart of 50,000 t/yr of capacity at its primary aluminum smelter in Mead, WA (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 1999b). Half of the idled 20,000-t/yr potline at Kaiser’s Tacoma, WA, smelter also was restarted to meet internal requirements. Restart of the remaining portion of the Tacoma potline would depend upon market supply-and-demand considerations. The capacity at the two smelters had been temporarily idled since September 1998 (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2000, p. 6). Improvements by Noranda Aluminum Inc. will increase production capacity at its New Madrid, MO, smelter to 253,000 t/yr by 2003 from 230,000 t/yr in 1999 (Mining Journal, 1999b). On July 2, Century Aluminum Co. and the United Steelworkers union (USW) announced the ratification of a new 4-year labor contract that would cover workers at Century’s 168,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter in Ravenswood, WV. The previous contract expired on May 31 (Metal Bulletin, 1999d). Alcan and the USW agreed to a 5-year labor contract that would cover workers at Alcan’s 186,000-t/yr Sebree, KY, primary aluminum smelter. The agreement reportedly included improvements in wages and benefits. The previous contract expired on October 28 (Metal Bulletin, 1999a). Noranda sold its rolling mill in Scottsboro, AL, to Michigan Avenue Partners. The operation, which was renamed Scottsboro Aluminum, produced painted and bare aluminum sheet and welded aluminum tube and had a capacity of approximately 181,000 t/yr of aluminum products (Metal Bulletin, 1999l). Pechiney announced the purchase of Century’s aluminum rolling mill and cast plate facility. The rolling mill at Ravenswood, WV, had the capacity to produce 270,000 t/yr of rolled aluminum products for the aerospace and transportation markets. The cast plate plant at Vernon, CA, had the capacity to produce 7,000 t/yr of cast aluminum plate for the machinery and equipment markets (Pechiney, 1999). Caradon Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of the United Kingdom’s Caradon Plc, merged with Easco Inc., the largest independent aluminum extruder in the United States. Easco operated 8 plants with a total of 21 soft-alloy extrusion presses, and Caradon ran 13 presses at 2 plants in the United States and 4 plants in Canada. The new company, Indalex Aluminum Solutions, became North America’s second largest extruder. Alcoa, which had about 65 presses in North America, was the largest (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999c). Coastal Aluminum Rolling Mills Inc. announced a $12 million expansion at its Williamsport, PA, rolling mill. The major component of the expansion is the addition of a new light-gauge foil mill capable of producing aluminum foil as thin as 0.006 millimeter (mm) (0.00025 inch). The new mill
will allow Coastal to enter the aluminum converter foil market and to produce flexible packaging for the pharmaceutical andALUMINUM—1999 5.3 

## food and beverage markets (Light Metal Age, 1999). Alcan and ARCO Aluminum Inc. announced a $22 million expansion of their jointly owned Logan Aluminum Co. rolling mill in Kentucky. The expansion, which included a new 200,000-t/yr pusher furnace to replace older technology, should increase plant efficiency and, thereby, increase capacity by approximately 15,000 t/yr (Alcan Aluminium Limited, 1999b). Reynolds sold its can complex in Muscle Shoals, AL, to Wise Alloys LLC, an affiliate of Wise Metals Group LLC. Included in the sale were a rolling mill, two reclamation plants, and a coil coating facility (Reynolds Metals Company, 1999c). Kaiser was in the initial stages of a product mix enhancement program at its Trentwood, WA, rolling mill. The company expected to move its product mix away from beverage can body stock toward higher value-added product lines, such as beverage can lid and tab stock and products for the automotive and other niche markets (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 1999d; Platt’s Metals Week, 1999i). Secondary.—Metal recovered from new and old scrap increased to 3.7 Mt in 1999 (table 3), according to data derived by the USGS from its “Aluminum Scrap” survey. Of the 83 companies and/or plants to which monthly or annual survey requests were sent, 57 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, 63.9 billion aluminum UBC’s were recycled in the United States in 1999. The recycling rate was 62.5%, which was a slight decrease from the 62.8% recycling rate reported in 1998; the rate is based on the number of cans shipped during the year. This was the 11th consecutive year in which the aluminum can recycling rate was greater than 60%. According to the organizations’ joint press release, aluminum beverage cans produced domestically in 1999 had an average 51.2% recycled content, the highest average recycled content percentage of all packaging materials (Aluminum Association Inc., 2000a). Alcan announced plans to add a remelt furnace at its Sebree plant to process new scrap generated by the company’s extrusion billet customers. The company also planned to use a blend of primary aluminum and remelt scrap in its extrusion billets. The new furnace will have the capacity to handle 50,000 t/yr of scrap. Target date for completion of the $5 million project was the end of 2000 (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999a). Hydro Aluminum Metal Products, a division of Norsk Hydro ASA, announced plans to build an aluminum remelt plant in Henderson, KY, that will process aluminum scrap and produce aluminum billet. The new plant will have an initial capacity of 90,000 t/yr of “primary quality” billet and should be in operation in 2001. The state-of-the-art technology, which was being used in other Hydro remelt plants in Europe, reportedly ensured a product that would be interchangeable with primary aluminum billet produced from smelters (Metal Bulletin, 1999i).Delta Group Inc. has installed a new 3,400-metric-ton-permonth (t/mo) (7.5-million-pound-per-month) furnace at its secondary aluminum plant in Muskego, WI. The new furnace replaces the company’s old 2,000-t/mo (4.5-million-pound-permonth) furnace at the same location (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999f). CM Metals, which purchased secondary aluminum producer Gettysburg Foundry and Alloys in November 1998, announced plans to move a large portion of that plant’s 2,270-t/mo (5- million-pound-per-month) capacity to a Chicago location and to begin production of 1,360 t/mo (3 million pounds per month) of secondary aluminum alloys by the end of the year. The company planned to bring the remaining capacity at the Gettysburg plant online sometime in 2001 (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999l). Superior Aluminum Alloys announced plans to add a third furnace at its New Haven, IN, plant. The expansion would add from 27,200 to 38,600 t/yr (60-85 million pounds per year) to the smelter’s output, which has been estimated to fall in the range of 54,400 to 68,000 t/yr (120-150 million pounds per year) of secondary aluminum (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999m). Resource LLC opened a new secondary aluminum smelter in Friendly, WV. The first of four planned furnaces was in operation and had a capacity to process more than 2,700 t/mo (6 million pounds per month) of dross concentrates, white dross, and scrap. The second of these tilting rotary furnaces was planned for startup by the end of the year. Resource was also installing a cold processing line capable of concentrating 7,300 t/mo (16 million pounds per month) of black dross and salt cake to be used as feed for its own furnaces or sold (Metal Bulletin, 1999m). IMCO Recycling Inc. purchased Alcan’s secondary aluminum alloys plant in Shelbyville, TN. The plant had the capacity to produce 54,400 t/yr (120 million pounds per year) of specification aluminum alloys. The facility was built in 1989 and is located near numerous producers of automobiles and auto and truck components (IMCO Recycling Inc., 1999a). IMCO also announced that it had signed a contract to supply approximately 1.36 Mt (3 billion pounds) of recycled aluminum metal to Commonwealth Industries Inc. during a 10-year period. The metal will be produced at IMCO’s Uhrichsville, OH, plant and will be delivered in molten form to Commonwealth’s rolling mill, which is located nearby. To meet the terms of the new contract, IMCO began an $8.5 million expansion project that included the installation of two new reverberatory furnaces and other improvements at the Uhrichsville plant. When completed in 2000, the expansion will increase the facility’s rated capacity to 272,000 t/yr (600 million pounds per year) from 163,000 t/yr (360 million pounds per year) (IMCO Recycling Inc., 1999b). IMCO also signed a long-term supply contract with General Motors Corp. (GM). IMCO agreed to supply GM with more than 907,000 t of secondary aluminum specification alloys during the next 13 years. The metal will be produced at IMCO’s plants at Coldwater, MI, and Shelbyville, TN, until a proposed new secondary smelter at Zilwaukee, MI, can be built (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999p; Wrigley, 1999b). Wise Alloys LLC announced plans to restart the Southern Reclamation aluminum scrap recycling facility in Muscle Shoals, AL, that it had purchased from Reynolds earlier in the year (Reynolds Metals Company, 1999c). The facility, whichU.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—1999

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## had been idle for more than a year, is capable of processing 6,800 to 8,200 t/mo (15-18 million pounds per month) of aluminum UBC’s. The molten metal produced at the plant will be transported to the company’s rolling mill, which is also located in Muscle Shoals (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999n). ACX Technologies Inc. sold Golden Aluminum Company, its subsidiary, to Alcoa (Alcoa Inc., 1999b). Golden ownership had reverted to ACX in August when Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc. exercised its option to return the plants to ACX (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999b). Golden’s operations included a rolling facility in Ft. Lupton, CO, that produced up to 31,800 t/yr (70 million pounds per year) of coated and mill finished sheet for food and beverage containers, as well as an idled rolling facility in San Antonio, TX. Under a consent decree with the DOJ, Alcoa agreed to sell the Ft. Lupton facility. Alcoa planned to retain the San Antonio plant for development work and non-can sheet production (Alcoa Inc., 1999b).

Consumption

In 1999, the transportation industry accounted for 3.6 Mt of total U.S. shipments of aluminum products (table 6). The container and packaging industry, which was the second largest domestic end use market, consumed more than 2.3 Mt of aluminum products. Total shipments of aluminum products to domestic users increased by approximately 6% in 1999 compared with those of 1998. Drucker Research Company Inc. released a report in which past trends and future growth potential of aluminum use in North American passenger cars and light trucks were analyzed. According to Drucker, the aluminum content has increased to approximately 115 kilograms (kg) (250 pounds) per vehicle in 1999 from 45 kg (100 pounds) per vehicle in the late 1970’s, a compound growth rate of more than 4% per year during the 20 year period; in the past 8 years alone, aluminum usage has grown by almost 30 kg (65 pounds) per vehicle. Drucker predicted a 2.5% to 3.0% compound annual growth rate for average vehicle aluminum content during the next 10 years. The aluminum content by 2010 is projected to be about 147 kg (325 pounds) per vehicle, 104 kg of cast products and 43 kg of mill products (Schultz and Haupricht, 1999). Ford Motor Co. signed a letter of intent to acquire Troy Design & Manufacturing Co. (TDM), a designer of metal fabricating tools with special skills in aluminum parts-stamping dies. The unusual acquisition reportedly underscored Ford’s plans to produce lightweight vehicles with aluminum bodies and structural components. TDM, which had engineering/design service facilities in Redford and Warren, MI, was regarded as one of the top companies in automotive draw die development work (Wrigley, 1999a). Kaiser announced the sale of its 50% interest in AKW to Accuride Corporation, Kaiser’s partner in the joint venture. AKW was formed in 1997 to design, manufacture, and sell heavy duty aluminum wheels (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 1999a). Alcoa acquired the remaining 50% interest in A-CMI from Hayes Lemmerz International Inc. A-CMI was a joint venture
formed in 1995 between Alcoa and CMI International to produce cast aluminum products for the automotive industry. Hayes Lemmerz had purchased CMI International in February 1999. A-CMI’s plants were located in Kentucky, Michigan, and Norway (Alcoa Inc., 1999a). Despite an increase (0.2%) in the number of aluminum cans shipped in the United States in 1999 (Aluminum Association Inc., 2000a), several packaging companies announced plans to close aluminum can manufacturing facilities. Crown Cork & Seal announced plans to close its 1.2-billion-can-per-year Atlanta, GA, aluminum beverage can plant (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999e). Ball Corporation announced that it would close one of its two beverage can manufacturing plants in Tampa, FL. The plant, which had been acquired from Reynolds in 1998, produced approximately 1.5 billion aluminum beverage cans per year (Ball Corporation, 1999). American National Can Group Inc. (ANC) announced that it would close its Piscataway, NJ, aluminum can plant. The reasons cited were overcapacity in the industry as a whole and in the ANC system, as well as the location of a comparable, slightly smaller ANC plant just 12 miles away in Monmouth Junction, NJ (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999o).

Stocks

Domestic inventories of aluminum ingot, mill products, and scrap decreased to 1.87 Mt at yearend 1999 from 1.93 Mt at yearend 1998 (Aluminum Association Inc., 2000b). The LME reported that its U.S. warehouses held 12,700 t of primary aluminum metal ingot compared with approximately 11,300 t at yearend 1998. It also reported that aluminum alloy ingot at its U.S. warehouses at yearend 1999 totaled 860 t, a significant decrease from the 1,500 t held at yearend 1998 (London Metal Exchange, 1999).

Prices

The monthly average U.S. market price of primary aluminum metal, as reported by Platt’s Metals Week, trended upward during the year. The monthly average price began the year at 58.8 cents per pound and by December, the monthly average had risen to 74.7 cents per pound, which was an increase of almost 16 cents per pound for the year. The average price for the year was 65.7 cents per pound, a very slight increase compared with the 1998 average annual price of 65.5 cents per pound (table 1). The LME cash price for high-grade primary aluminum ingot followed the same general trend as the U.S. market price. The 1999 average annual LME cash price was 61.7 cents per pound. Purchase prices for aluminum scrap, as quoted by American Metal Market, followed the general trend of primary ingot prices, and scrap prices, which closed the year at significantly higher levels than those at the beginning of the year, averaged more than 10 cents per pound higher than those at yearend 1998. The yearend price ranges for selected types of aluminum scrap were as follows: mixed low-copper-content aluminum clips, 53.5 to 54.5 cents per pound; old sheet and cast aluminum, 48.5 to 49.5 cents per pound; and clean, dry aluminum turnings, 48.5 to 49.5 cents per pound.ALUMINUM—1999 5.5



## Aluminum producers’ buying price range for processed and delivered UBC’s, as quoted by American Metal Market, also trended upward during the year. The price range began the year at 44 to 45 cents per pound and closed the year at 57 to 59 cents per pound. Resource Recycling published a monthly transaction price for aluminum UBC’s in its Container Recycling Report. During the year, the monthly average increased significantly from 44.4 cents per pound in January to 59.6 cents per pound in December. Similar to the U.S. market price trend of primary aluminum ingot, however, the annual average price for 1999 of 50.6 cents per pound was only marginally higher than the 1998 annual average of 50.0 cents per pound. The yearend indicator prices for selected secondary aluminum ingots, as published in American Metal Market, also increased significantly compared with those of 1998. The closing prices for 1999 were as follows: alloy 380 (1% zinc content), 78.34 cents per pound; alloy 360 (0.6% copper content), 81.78 cents per pound; alloy 413 (0.6% copper content), 81.48 cents per pound; and alloy 319, 81.06 cents per pound. Platt’s Metals Week published an annual average U.S. price of 65.05 cents per pound for A-380 alloy (3% zinc content). The average annual LME cash price for a similar 380 alloy was 54.03 cents per pound. The New York Mercantile Exchange launched a new Commodity Exchange (COMEX) aluminum futures contract on May 14. The futures contract called for Midwest delivery with a minimum grade of P1020A, or 99.7% purity, in approximately 20-t (44,000-pound) lots. The first two COMEX warehouses were located at Owensboro, KY, and Clarksville, TN (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999q).

Foreign Trade

Total exports from the United States increased slightly in 1999 compared with those of 1998 (table 8). Exports of semifabricated materials and crude metals and alloys increased, but exports of aluminum scrap declined compared with those of 1998 (table 9). Almost three-fourths of total U.S. exports were accounted for, in decreasing order of shipments, by Canada, Mexico, and Japan. Imports for consumption continued to increase significantly in 1999 compared with those of the previous year (table 10). During the past 3 years, imports have increased by 43%. Canada remained the major source country by supplying 55% of the total imports in 1999 (table 11). Russia continued to be the second largest supplier of aluminum materials. Imports of crude metal and alloys from Russia increased significantly (18%) in 1999 and reached an all-time high of more than 711,000 t.

World Review

To meet the increased worldwide demand for aluminum, production of primary aluminum metal increased by 3% in 1999 compared with that of 1998 (table 12). The U.S. demand remained strong, and demand in European and Asian markets improved during the course of the year. In 1999, the IPAI revised the guidelines that govern the reporting of aluminum inventories and published dual sets of data for 1999. The switchover to the new guidelines became official with 2000 data. A full explanation of and reasons for the change can be obtained from IPAI directly. The contact
information can be found on their web site at URL http://www.world-aluminium.org/. From the end of January through the end of December 1999, inventories of unwrought aluminum, as reported by IPAI, decreased by approximately 180,000 t (old inventory definition) or 100,000 t (new definition). Dual data for the end of selected months, where available, are given below. Using the old definition, unwrought aluminum inventories held by members of the IPAI were as follows: December 1998, 1.69 Mt; January 1999, 1.73 Mt; and December 1999, 1.55 Mt. Total metal inventories were as follows: December 1998, 3.16 Mt; January 1999, 3.18 Mt; and December 1999, 2.96 Mt (International Primary Aluminium Institute, 2000a). Using the new definitions, yearend 1998 data were not available. Unwrought aluminum inventories were as follows: January 1999, 1.90 Mt, and December 1999, 1.80 Mt. Total inventories were as follows: January 1999, 3.34 Mt, and December 1999, 3.18 Mt (International Primary Aluminium Institute, 2000b). Inventories of primary aluminum metal held by the LME, however, increased to 774,000 t at yearend 1999 from 636,000 t at yearend 1998, whereas aluminum alloy inventories followed the IPAI inventory trend and decreased to 78,000 t at yearend 1999 from 96,000 t at yearend 1998 (London Metal Exchange, 1999). Argentina.—Aluar Aluminio SA completed the $349 million expansion at its Puerto Madryn primary aluminum smelter in Argentina. The 72,000-t/yr expansion increased capacity at the smelter to 260,000 t/yr (Metal Bulletin, 1999c). Australia.—Tomago Aluminium Company Pty Limited completed an upgrade of its primary aluminum smelter in New South Wales. Two of the plant’s existing potlines were upgraded, and 80 new pots were added to the lines, which increased capacity at the smelter to 440,000 t/yr. Participants in the smelter were Pechiney Pacific Pty Limited (36.05%), Gove Aluminium Finance Limited (36.05%), TOA Pty Limited (15.5%), VAW Australia Pty Limited (6.2%), and V.A.W. Tomago, Inc. (6.2%) (Metal Bulletin, 1999n). Brazil.—Norsk Hydro entered into a 10-year purchasing agreement with Vale do Rio Doce Alumínio S.A. (Aluvale) for approximately 1 Mt of primary aluminum metal from the Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. (Albras) smelter in Barcarena. The 345,000-t/yr Albras smelter was jointly owned by Aluvale (51%), a wholly owned subsidiary of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD), and the Japanese group Nippon Amazon Aluminium Co. Ltd. (NAAC) (49%) (Burgert, 1999). Alcoa Alumínio S.A., Alcoa’s Brazilian subsidiary, planned to build a 72,000-unit-per-year aluminum wheel plant in Pernambuco. Initially, the plant will only finish wheels imported in unfinished form from Alcoa’s wheel plant in Hungary. When the Brazilian market increases its need for aluminum wheels, Alcoa expects to build a $35 million second stage that will produce unfinished wheels (Kepp, 1999).U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—1999

5.6 

## Reynolds launched Reyco, a food service packaging and consumer products subsidiary that will operate a new manufacturing facility in Sao Paulo. The Reyco facility, which began operations on April 12, will produce food service packaging products, including aluminum foil containers and institutional aluminum foil and film wrap, under the Reynolds brand name. Consumer products will include aluminum foil, plastic wrap, aluminum foil containers, and plastic bags. Reyco will focus initially on the Brazilian market with plans to expand throughout South America in the near future (Reynolds Metals Company, 1999b). Canada.—Alcan announced that it would invest an additional $136 million at its 375,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter under construction at Alma, Quebec. The additional funds will be spent on new equipment for the smelter’s casting house to produce foundry ingot for the automotive industry and aluminum rod for the energy transmission market (Metal Bulletin, 1999b). Alcan announced the permanent closure of its 75,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter at Isle-Maligne Works, Quebec. The closure, originally scheduled for September 2000, was completed by yearend 1999 (Alcan Aluminium Limited, 1999a). In July, Alcan and the Canadian Auto Workers union reached agreement on terms for a new 3-year labor contract that would cover workers at the primary aluminum smelter at Kitimat, British Columbia. The plan included a 1% basic pay raise and a performance bonus scheme that could pay out from 3% to as much as 6% per year. A committee was formed to review pension provisions (Metal Bulletin, 1999j). Alcan also announced that it would invest $46 million to expand production of aluminum rolled sheet for the automotive and distribution markets. The expansion, which was scheduled for completion by the end of 2000, will increase production at the Kingston, Ontario, plant by 40% during the next several years. Aluminum sheet produced at Kingston was used by automakers for exterior body panel applications, such as doors, fenders, hoods, and trunks (Alcan Aluminium Limited, 1999e). China.—China Aluminium Corp. (Chalco), which was formally inaugurated at the beginning of August, took over the management of China’s aluminum assets that were formerly controlled by the State Bureau of Nonferrous Metals Industry. Chalco’s stated goals are to reduce production costs at smelters under its management and to attract foreign investment. Some of the major aluminum smelters and refineries managed by Chalco include Shanxi, Shandong, Great Wall Aluminium Co., Pingguo, and Qinghai. In all, approximately 1 Mt of aluminum smelter production capacity would be under its control (Metal Bulletin, 1999e). Alcoa and Chalco signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to form a strategic partnership expected to involve the association of several aluminum production facilities of Chalco and Alcoa. This MOU, which was expected to be finalized by the end of June 2000, will supersede the MOU Alcoa entered into last year with the China State Nonferrous Metals Industry Administration (Alcoa Inc., 1999f). Dubai.—Dubai Aluminium Co. (Dubal) completed its $725 million Condor expansion project 3 months ahead of schedule. The 240-cell expansion, which was energized in early October, increased capacity at the primary aluminum smelter to 536,000 t/yr from 390,000 t/yr, thus making it the largest stand-alone aluminum smelter in the Western world (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999g). Lucky Recycling Ltd. announced plans to double capacity at its 1,000-t/mo secondary aluminum smelter to 2,000 t/mo by mid-2000. A new reverberatory furnace will be installed alongside the old induction furnace. The old furnace produced high-grade diecasting alloys from clean, purer grades of scrap, whereas the new furnace will use more irony aluminum scrap to produce commodity grade ingots (Metal Bulletin, 1999k). Egypt.—Alcoa signed a MOU with the Egyptian Government’s Holding Company for Metallurgical Industries and The Aluminium Co. of Egypt (Egyptalum), its subsidiary company, on the terms of an Alcoa majority-owned strategic partnership designed to modernize Egyptalum’s operations and improve the company’s competitiveness. Egyptalum’s aluminum operations included a 180,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter, a rolling mill, and a soft-alloy extrusion plant in Nag-Hammady. Negotiations for a definitive agreement were expected to be completed in 2000 (Alcoa Inc., 1999c). Finland.—Foster Wheeler Service Oy has been awarded a contract by Corenso United Oy Ltd. to supply a bubbling-bed gasifier and gas boiler for a recycling project in Varkaus that would recover 2,200 t/yr of aluminum from food and drink packaging. The gasification plant and steam boiler were designed to burn the gas that results from the recycling of the coreboard in the packaging. The recovered aluminum would be cast into blocks and then further processed at an aluminum foil plant (Worden, 1999).
France.—Pechiney restarted a combined 18,000 t/yr of idled capacity at its Auzat and Lannemezan primary aluminum smelters in France. Auzat and Lannemezan were each capable of producing about 45,000 t/yr of aluminum ingot (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999j, k). Germany.—VAW Aluminium AG signed a letter of intent to purchase three aluminum foil rolling mills from the Swedish group Gränges AB. Gränges’ Eurofoil group had annual sales of $170 million and about 460 employees. Its production facilities in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Sweden made about 60,000 t/yr of thin aluminum foil. The purchase would increase VAW’s output of rolled products to about 700,000 t/yr (Burgert and Köhl, 1999). Ghana.—Volta Aluminium Co. (Valco) primary aluminum smelter, which was 90% owned by Kaiser, received a power allocation for 2000 and 2001 from the Volta River Authority that will allow it to reopen another potline; that is, Valco will be able to operate four of five potlines, which is equivalent to about 80% of its 200,000-t/yr capacity, during each of those 2 years (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 1999c). Iceland.—Hydro Aluminium A.S., a wholly owned subsidiary of Norsk Hydro, and Icelandic authorities have agreed to study the feasibility of building a primary aluminum smelter on the eastern coast of Iceland at Reydarfjördur. The smelter would have an initial capacity of 120,000 t/yr. The studies were expected to take a year to complete (Norsk HydroALUMINUM—1999 5.7 

## ASA, 1999). Expansion at Columbia Ventures Corp.’s 60,000-t/yr Nordic Aluminum Corp. (Nordural) primary aluminum smelter has been delayed. Plans had called for the smelter to expand by 30,000 t/yr at the beginning of 1999, but the availability of additional power and the completion of financing for the project have fallen behind schedule. Once construction begins, it will take 13 to 15 months to complete the project (Platt’s Metals Week, 1999d). Korea, Republic of

.—Alcan and Taihan Electric Wire Co., Ltd. (TEC) announced the formation of Alcan Taihan Aluminum Limited, a jointly owned company to serve the aluminum rolled products market throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Alcan, which held a 56% equity interest in the company, assumed management responsibility for all aspects of the business. The new company consisted of the rolling assets previously held by TEC, which included casting, hot and cold rolling, and finishing operations. The facility’s output was anticipated to increase from the 1999 estimated output of 100,000 t/yr to a target capacity of 300,000 t/yr during the next 5 years (Alcan Aluminium Limited, 1999c). Malaysia.—A Japanese-Malaysian joint-venture aluminum can manufacturing plant with an annual production capacity of 500 million can bodies and 700 million ends began operations. KJM Aluminum Can Sdn. Bhd., owned by Mitsubishi Materials Corp. (25%), Mitsubishi Corp. (15%), and Malaysia’s Kian Joo Can Factory Berhad (60%), is located about 50 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur. Production from the plant will be marketed in Malaysia and other Asian countries (Furukawa, 1999). Netherlands.—Koninkliijke Hoogovens N.V., parent company of Hoogovens Aluminium, merged with British Steel. Corus Group plc, the new company, will retain Hoogovens’ aluminum smelters, extrusion plants, and rolling mills. Hoogovens’ primary aluminum smelters included the 110,000- t/yr Delfzijl smelter in the Netherlands, the 85,000-t/yr Voerde smelter in Germany, and a 20% share of the 230,000-t/yr Alouette smelter in Canada (Metal Bulletin, 1999h). Nigeria.—On June 9, the Aluminium Smelter Co. of Nigeria (Alscon) suspended operations at its 193,000-t/yr Ikot Abasi primary aluminum smelter because of a lack of working capital. The smelter, which was commissioned in 1997, has only managed a 29% production rate at best. The smelter was jointly owned by the Nigerian Government (70%), Ferrostaal of Germany (20%), and Reynolds (10%) (Mining Journal, 1999a). Norway.—Elkem ASA began reconstruction work on potlines 1 and 2 at its primary aluminum smelter in Lista. According to Elkem, the conversion of the lines to Elkem’s new Soderberg technology will improve environmental conditions and cost efficiencies at the plant (Elkem ASA, 2000, p. 18). Spain.—Alcoa completed the acquisition of Reynolds’ aluminum extrusion plant in Irurzun, as well as its distribution operation for architectural systems, which had warehouses in several cities in Spain. The Irurzun plant has the capacity to produce 22,000 t/yr of soft alloy extrusions for use primarily in industrial and residential building applications (Reynolds Metals Company, 1999a). Suriname.—In the first half of the year, Alcoa shut down its 30,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter for an indefinite period of time. The decision was based on high relative production costs and power supply problems caused by low rainfall (Alcoa Inc., 1999g). Turkey.—Alcoa and Kibar Holding Company of Turkey signed a Letter of Intent to form a strategic alliance with respect to Assan Alüminyum, Kibar’s Turkish aluminum business. Assan was the leading aluminum rolled products producer in Turkey. Its continuous casting operation had the capacity to produce 60,000 t/yr of aluminum castings. Expansion programs were expected to increase capacity to 90,000 t/yr by the end of 1999 (Alcoa Inc., 1999d). Ukraine.—Zaporozhye Aluminum Works opened a wire rod mill capable of producing 15,000 t/yr of 9- to 15-mm diameter rod. The plant operated initially at 25% of capacity and was expected to reach 75% of capacity by the end of 1999 (Metal Bulletin, 1999o). Zaporozhye also completed the first stage of a facility to produce aluminum foil and packaging materials. The second stage, a cold-rolled sheet mill, should be completed by the end of 2000, and the third stage, which will produce 36,000 t/yr of aluminum foil, was scheduled for completion in the first half of 2001 (Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 1999).

Outlook

Aluminum demand in the United States and the rest of the world should remain strong with the major growth area continuing to be the transportation industry, especially the automotive market. World production should also increase and keep pace with demand despite some short term idling of capacity in the United States during the first half of 2000 owing to increases in domestic energy costs. At yearend 1999, two major greenfield smelter projects under construction were nearing completion. One, a smelter in Mozambique, poured its first metal in June 2000, 6 months ahead of schedule (Mozambique Aluminium Co., 2000). To meet the anticipated increase in future demand, additional greenfield and brownfield expansions are being considered.

References Cited

Alcan Aluminium Limited, 1999a, Alcan Aluminium Limited announces reduction in primary metal production: Montreal, Alcan Aluminium Limited press release, March 22, 1 p. ———1999b, Alcan and ARCO Aluminum announce Logan expansion and new operating agreement: Montreal, Alcan Aluminium Limited press release, April 22, 1 p. ———1999c, Alcan and Taihan Electric Wire Co. launch new Korean company: Montreal, Canada, and Seoul, South Korea, Alcan Aluminium Limited press release, September 30, 2 p. ———1999d, Alcan, Pechiney, and algroup announce proposed merger to form world’s largest aluminium company and global leader in both flexible and specialty packaging: Montreal, Alcan Aluminium Limited press release, August 11, 22 p. ———1999e, Alcan to expand Kingston, Ontario plant to meet market growth for auto sheet and distribution: Montreal, Alcan Aluminium Limited press release, March 2, 1 p. ———2000a, Alcan Aluminium Limited advises that the applicable waitingperiod under U.S. antitrust regulations with respect to the proposed Alcanalgroup merger has expired: Montreal, Alcan Aluminium Limited press release, April 21, 1 p.U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—1999

5.8 ———2000b, Alcan and algroup to merge: Montreal, Canada, and Zurich, Switzerland, Alcan Aluminium Limited press release, June 1, 2 p. ———2000c, Annual report—1999: Montreal, Alcan Aluminium Limited, 69 p.———2000d, Proposed Alcan-Pechiney-algroup merger will not proceed; Alcanalgroup merger agreement remains in force: Montreal, Canada, Paris, France, and Zurich, Switzerland, Alcan Aluminium Limited press release, April 13, 2 p. Alcoa Inc., 1999a, Alcoa acquires remaining 50% interest in A-CMI from Hayes Lemmerz: Pittsburgh, PA, and Northville, MI, Alcoa Inc. press release, August 2, 1 p. ———1999b, Alcoa and ACX close sale of Golden Aluminum; agreement reached with DOJ for sale of Ft. Lupton: Pittsburgh, PA, and Golden, CO, Alcoa Inc. press release, November 2, 1 p. ———1999c, Alcoa and Egyptalum sign memorandum of understanding: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, August 11, 1 p. ———1999d, Alcoa and Kibar Holding Company sign letter of intent: Pittsburgh, PA, and Istanbul, Turkey, Alcoa Inc. press release, August 10, 1 p. ———1999e, Alcoa and Reynolds agree to merge: Pittsburgh, PA, and Richmond, VA, Alcoa Inc. press release, August 19, 2 p. ———1999f, Alcoa signs memorandum of understanding with China Aluminum Corp. (Chalco): Pittsburgh, PA, and Beijing, China, Alcoa Inc. press release, November 8, 1 p. ———1999g, Alcoa to shut down Suralco smelter: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, March 23, 1 p. ———2000a, Alcoa completes merger with Reynolds Metals: Pittsburgh, PA, and Richmond, VA, Alcoa Inc. press release, May 3, 1 p. ———2000b, Annual report—1999: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc., 67 p. algroup, 2000, Annual report—1999: Zurich, algroup, 72 p. Aluminum Association Inc., 2000a, Aluminum can recycling rate is 62.5 percent for 1999: Washington, DC, Aluminum Association Inc. press release, April 6, 4

p. ———2000b, The aluminum situation: Aluminum Association Inc., February, 4

p. Ball Corporation, 1999, Ball Corporation announces plans to close acquired Tampa, Fla., beverage can plant: Broomfield, CO, Ball Corporation press release, April 13, 1 p. Burgert, Philip, 1999, Hydro lines up Brazilian supply: American Metal Market, v. 107, no. 203, October 21, p. 1, 12. Burgert, Philip, and Köhl, Christian, 1999, VAW buying units from Gränges, Japan’s MCC: American Metal Market, v. 107, no. 212, November 3, p. 16. CRU Aluminium Monitor, 1999, Industry news: CRU Aluminium Monitor, April, p. 12. Elkem ASA, 2000, Annual report—1999: Oslo, Elkem ASA, 75 p. Furukawa, Tsukasa, 1999, Malaysian can plant starts up: American Metal Market, v. 107, no. 134, July 14, p. 5. IMCO Recycling Inc., 1999a, IMCO Recycling completes purchase of Tennessee aluminum alloys plant: Irving, TX, IMCO Recycling Inc. press release, February 2, 1 p. ———1999b, IMCO Recycling signs new supply contract, plans expansion at its Uhrichsville, Ohio plant: Irving, TX, IMCO Recycling Inc. press release, April 22, 1 p. Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 1999, Zaporozhye Aluminum builds first stage of foil mill: Interfax Mining & Metals Report, v. 8, issue 52, December 17-23, p. 10. International Primary Aluminium Institute, 2000a, Aluminium inventories: International Primary Aluminium Institute Form 350, February 10, 2 p. ———2000b, Aluminium inventories: International Primary Aluminium Institute Form 351, February 10, 2 p. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 1999a, Kaiser Aluminum completes previously announced sale of interest in AKW: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press release, April 1, 1 p. ———1999b, Kaiser Aluminum set for partial restart of capacity in Pacific Northwest: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press release, February 2, 1 p. ———1999c, Kaiser Aluminum’s Valco smelter receives power allocation sufficient for four-line operation in 2000 and 2001: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press release, December 16, 1 p. ———1999d, Kaiser Aluminum to enhance product mix in flat-rolled products business: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press release, December 15, 2 p. ———2000, Form 10-K—1999: Securities and Exchange Commission, 71 p. Kepp, Michael, 1999, Alcoa rolls out plan for Brazil wheel plant: American Metal Market, v. 107, no. 226, November 23, p. 6. Light Metal Age, 1999, Coastal expansion: Light Metal Age, v. 57, no. 5, 6, June, p. 82. London Metal Exchange, 1999, Aluminium stocks: London Metal Exchange, December 30, 2 p. Metal Bulletin, 1999a, Alcan agrees Sebree labour pact: Metal Bulletin, no. 8423, November 4, p. 12. ———1999b, Alma investment increased by C$200m: Metal Bulletin, no. 8424, November 8, p. 5. ———1999c, Aluar completes primary smelter expansion: Metal Bulletin, no. 8427, November 18, p. 5. ———1999d, Century agrees contract, Ormet in further negotiations: Metal Bulletin, no. 8391, July 8, p. 4. ———1999e, Chalco aims to cut costs, seek foreign investments: Metal Bulletin, no. 8401, August 16, p. 6. ———1999f, Columbia Falls agrees new labour contract: Metal Bulletin, no. 8420, October 25, p. 7. ———1999g, Hawesville expansion comes on stream at Southwire: Metal Bulletin, no. 8371, April 29, p. 4. ———1999h, Hoogovens’ Al operations to be retained by BSKH: Metal Bulletin, no. 8383, June 10, p. 3. ———1999i, Hydro to produce ‘primary’ billet from remelt in Kentucky: Metal Bulletin, no. 8389, July 1, p. 10. ———1999j, Kitimat back on line after labour stoppage: Metal Bulletin, no. 8397, July 29, p. 5. ———1999k, Lucky Recycling to double capacity: Metal Bulletin, no. 8424, November 8, p. 12. ———1999l, Norandal rolling mill purchase is completed: Metal Bulletin, no. 8364, April 1, p. 9. ———1999m, Resource starts first of four secondary aluminium furnaces: Metal Bulletin, no. 8383, June 10, p. 9. ———1999n, Tomago smelter upgrade completed: Metal Bulletin, no. 8340, January 7, p. 9. ———1999o, Zaporozhye starts wire rod production: Metal Bulletin, no. 8387, June 24, p. 5. Mining Journal, 1999a, Ikot Abasi shuts down: Mining Journal, v. 332, no. 8536, June 18, p. 460. ———1999b, Noranda building on a firm base: Mining Journal, v. 332, no. 8523, March 19, p. 191. Mozambique Aluminium Co., 2000, First aluminium produced at Mozal: London, Mozambique Aluminium Co. press release, June 18, 2 p. Norsk Hydro ASA, 1999, Hydro to look closer at Iceland aluminium project: Oslo, Norsk Hydro ASA press release, June 30, 1 p. Pechiney, 1999, Pechiney completes purchase of Century’s two aluminum fabrication plants: Paris, Pechiney press release, September 21, 1 p. ———2000, Form 20-F—1999: Securities and Exchange Commission, 167 p. Platt’s Metals Week, 1999a, Alcan Sebree plan to squeeze US aluminum scrap market: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 32, August 9, p. 2-3. ———1999b, Alcoa grab for Golden leaves full outcome uncertain: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 35, August 30, p. 12. ———1999c, Caradon/Easco start extrusion consolidation trend: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70. no. 31, August 2, p. 5-6. ———1999d, Columbia to finalize Iceland expansion early next year: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 49, December 6, p. 12. ———1999e, Crown closes Atlanta plant: Platt’s Metals Week. v. 70, no. 11, March 12, p. 13. ———1999f, Delta’s Muskego plant producing: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 30, July 26, p. 6. ———1999g, Dubal expansion done: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 42, October 18, p. 16. ———1999h, Glencore agrees to acquire Columbia Falls Aluminum: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 21, May 24, p. 3. ———1999i, Kaiser Trentwood mill joins shift away from cansheet: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 51, December 20, p. 12-13. ———1999j, Pechiney holds despite outlook: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 121, March 22, p. 7. ———1999k Pechiney restarts may lead others, but majors hold: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 4, January 25, p. 5-6. ———1999l, Secondaries seek to revive capacity, increase prices: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 9, March 1, p. 10. ———1999m, Superior to expand: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 13, March 29, p. 13. ———1999n, Wise to restart Southern Reclamation, boost Shoals mill output: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 41, October 11, p. 13. ———1999o, ANC to close plant [sic] can plant; market questionable: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 52, December 27, p. 5-6. ———1999p, GM to manage aluminum supply, output in IMCO contract: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 11, March 12, p. 1, 11-12. ———1999q, NYMEX aluminum off and running—Off-market trade seen: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 70, no. 20, p. 1, 7.ALUMINUM—1999 5.9

———2000, EC forces rethink of Alcan-Pechiney merger plan: Platt’s Metals Week, v. 71, no. 12, p. 1, 10-11. Reynolds Metals Company, 1999a, Alcoa completes purchase of Reynolds’ extrusion plant in Irurzun Spain: Richmond, VA, Reynolds Metals Company press release, March 31, 1 p. ———1999b, Reynolds Metals Company announces expansion of packaging and consumer products business into South America: Richmond, VA, Reynolds Metals Company press release, April 15, 1 p. ———1999c, Reynolds Metals completes sale of Alabama can stock complex to Wise Alloys: Richmond, VA, Reynolds Metals Company press release, March 31, 2 p. ———2000, Form 10-K405—1999: Securities and Exchange Commission, 76 p. Shultz, R.A., and Haupricht, W.J., 1999, Trends in aluminum use for passenger cars and light trucks in North America: Light Metal Age, v. 57, no. 1, 2, February, p. 108-113. Worden, Edward, 1999, Finns eye aluminum recovery: American Metal Market, v. 107, no. 178, September 15, p. 9. Wrigley, Al, 1999a, Ford prepares for aluminum vehicles: American Metal Market, v. 107, no. 15, January 25, p. 4. ———1999b, Imco’s smelter plans get cold shoulder in Mich.: American Metal Market, v. 107, no. 188, September 29, p. 7.



## GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

U.S. Geological Survey Publications

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

## Aluminum. Mineral Industry Surveys, monthly.1


## Aluminum and Bauxite. Ch. in United States Mineral Resources, Professional Paper 820, 1973. Bauxite and Alumina. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries,
annual.1 

## U.S. Trade in Bauxite and Alumina. Mineral Industry Surveys, quarterly.1 

## Primary Aluminum Plants Worldwide, 1998.1 

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

Other

Aluminum. Ch. in Mineral Facts and Problems, U.S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 675, 1985. Aluminum Association Inc. Aluminum Statistical Review,
annual. Alumina Plants Worldwide, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1993. Bauxite Mines Worldwide, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1994.

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

(Thousand metric tons, unless otherwise specified)

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
United States: Primary production 3,375 3,577 3,603 3,713 3,779 Value (million dollars) $6,390 $5,630 $6,120 $5,360 $5,470 Price (average cents per pound), U.S. market (spot) 85.9 71.3 77.1 65.5 65.7 Inventories (December 31): Aluminum industry 2/ 2,000 1,860 1,860 1,930 1,870
LME stocks in U.S. warehouses 3/ 45 33 8 13 14 National Defense Stockpile 57 57 (4/)

-- -- Secondary recovery: 5/ 3,190 3,310 3,550 3,440 3,750 New scrap 1,680 1,730 2,020 1,950 2,200 Old scrap 1,510 1,570 1,530 1,500 1,550 Exports (crude and semicrude) 1,610 1,500 1,570 1,590 1,640 Imports for consumption (crude and semicrude) 2,980 2,810 3,080 3,550 4,000 Aluminum industry shipments 6/ 8,260 8,330 8,880 9,260r/ 9,840 Supply, apparent 7/ 7,980 8,340 8,740 9,040 9,940 Consumption, apparent 8/ 6,300 6,610 6,720 7,090 7,740
World: Production 19,700 20,700r/ 21,600r/ 22,500r/ 23,100e/
e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. -- Zero. 1/ Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits, except "Primary production" and "Prices." 2/ Includes ingot, semifabricated material, and scrap. 1995 through 1998 data from Current Industrial Reports, Series M33-D, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1999 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 scrap expanded for full industry coverage. 6/ Shipped to domestic industry. 7/ Defined as domestic primary metal production plus secondary recovery plus imports minus exports plus adjustments for Government and industry stocks changes. 8/ 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 1998 1999 1999 ownership Alcan Aluminum Corp.: Sebree, KY 186 186 Alcan Aluminium Limited, 100%.
Alcoa Inc.: 2/ Alcoa, TN 210 210 Alcoa Inc., 100%. Badin, NC 115 115 Do. Evansville, IN (Warrick) 300 300 Do. Ferndale, WA (Intalco) 272 272 Alcoa Inc., 61%; Mitsui & Co. Ltd., 32%; YKK Corp., 7%. Frederick, MD (Eastalco) 174 174 Do. Massena, NY 125 125 Alcoa Inc., 100%. Mount Holly, SC 205 205 Alcoa Inc., 50.3%; Century Aluminum Co., 26.7%; Glencore AG, 23%. Rockdale, TX 315 315 Alcoa Inc., 100%. Wenatchee, WA 220 220 Do.
Total 1,940 1,940 Century Aluminum Co.: Ravenswood, WV 168 173 Century Aluminum Co., 100%.
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 Inc., 100%. Tacoma, WA 73 73 Do.
Total 273 273
NSA: Hawesville, KY 186 237 Southwire Co., 100%.
Noranda Aluminum Inc.: New Madrid, MO 220 230 Noranda Mines Ltd., 100%. Northwest Aluminum Corp.: The Dalles, OR 82 82 Private interests, 100%. Ormet Primary Aluminum Corp.: Hannibal, OH 256 255 Ormet Corp., 100%. Reynolds Metals Company: Longview, WA 204 204 Reynolds Metals Company, 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 4,210 4,270 1/ Data are rounded to no more 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, BY CLASS 1/ 2/

(Metric tons)

Calculated recovery
Class Consumption Aluminum Metallic
1998: Secondary smelters 2,080,000 1,410,000 1,520,000 Integrated aluminum companies 1,290,000 1,070,000 1,140,000 Independent mill fabricators 538,000 466,000 500,000
Foundries 72,500 59,200 63,500
Other consumers 15,000 15,000 15,000
Total 4,000,000 3,020,000 3,230,000 Estimated full industry coverage 4,270,000 3,210,000 3,440,000
1999: Secondary smelters 2,180,000 1,490,000 1,600,000 Integrated aluminum companies 1,230,000 1,010,000 1,080,000 Independent mill fabricators 787,000 674,000 720,000
Foundries 101,000 85,300 91,300
Other consumers 8,880 8,810 8,810
Total 4,300,000 3,270,000 3,500,000 Estimated full industry coverage 4,610,000 3,500,000 3,740,000 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 1999 1/ 2/

(Metric tons)

Stocks, Net Consump- Stocks, Class of consumer and type of scrap January 1 receipts 3/ tion December 31 Secondary smelters: New scrap:
Solids 10,500r/ 335,000 333,000 12,300 Borings and turnings 11,800r/ 317,000 322,000 6,230 Dross and skimmings 2,080 613,000 612,000 3,700
Other 4/ 2,920r/ 257,000 256,000 3,640
Total 27,300r/1,520,000 1,520,000 25,800 Old scrap: Castings, sheet, clippings 8,440r/ 460,000 462,000 5,990 Aluminum-copper radiators 2,780r/ 21,700 22,100 2,380
Aluminum cans 5/ 1,110 119,000 119,000 897
Other 6/ 2,700r/ 39,200 39,900 1,930
Total 15,000r/ 639,000 643,000 11,200 Sweated pig 786r/ 8,780 9,100 465 Total secondary smelters 43,100r/2,170,000 2,180,000 37,500 Integrated aluminum companies, foundries, independent mill fabricators, other consumers: New scrap:
Solids 22,100r/ 833,000 833,000 22,400 Borings and turnings 215 25,100 25,200 104 Dross and skimmings 173 8,280 8,320 131
Other 4/ 8,420 212,000 208,000 11,600
Total 30,900r/1,080,000 1,070,000 34,300 Old scrap: Castings, sheet, clippings 5,600 151,000 154,000 3,060 Aluminum-copper radiators 517 6,920 7,000 439
Aluminum cans 19,700 852,000 857,000 15,100
Other 6/ 22 29,800 29,800 22
Total 25,900 1,040,000 1,050,000 18,700 Sweated pig 138 3,190 3,240 86 Total integrated aluminum companies, etc. 56,900r/2,120,000 2,130,000 53,000 All scrap consumed: New scrap:
Solids 32,600r/1,170,000 1,170,000 34,700 Borings and turnings 12,000r/ 342,000 348,000 6,330 Dross and skimmings 2,260 622,000 620,000 3,830
Other 4/ 11,300r/ 468,000 464,000 15,200
Total 58,300r/2,600,000 2,600,000 60,100 Old scrap: Castings, sheet, clippings 14,000r/ 611,000 616,000 9,050 Aluminum-copper radiators 3,290r/ 28,600 29,100 2,820
Aluminum cans 20,800 971,000 976,000 16,000
Other 6/ 2,720r/ 68,900 69,700 1,950
Total 40,900r/1,680,000 1,690,000 29,900 Sweated pig 924r/ 12,000 12,300 551 Total of all scrap consumed 100,000r/4,290,000 4,300,000 90,500
r/ Revised. 1/ Includes imported scrap. According to reporting companies, 27.80% of total receipts of aluminum-base scrap, or 1,200,000 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 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)

1998 1999

Net Net
Production shipments 2/ Production shipments 2/ Diecast alloys: 13% Si, 360, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 47,900 47,400 29,700 30,000
380 and variations 497,000 495,000 599,000 594,000 Sand and permanent mold: 95/5 Al-Si, 356, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 55,500 55,900 37,600 37,200
No. 319 and variations 164,000 161,000 188,000 187,000 F-132 alloy and variations 47,700 47,600 56,400 55,900 Al-Mg alloys 639 639 639 639 Al-Zn alloys 10,600r/ 9,780r/ 17,100 17,600 Al-Si alloys (0.6% to 2.0% Cu) 2,020 2,020 2,020 2,020 Al-Cu alloys (1.5% Si, maximum) 924 924 924 924 Al-Si-Cu-Ni alloys 990 993 949 952
Other 905 861 712 761 Wrought alloys, extrusion billets 237,000r/ 238,000r/ 221,000 221,000
Miscellaneous:
Steel deoxidation W WW W Pure (97.0% Al) W WW W
Aluminum-base hardeners 3,600 4,290 3,470 3,480
Other 3/ 119,000 119,000 112,000 108,000
Total 1,190,000 1,180,000 1,270,000 1,260,000 Less consumption of materials other than scrap: Primary aluminum 76,800 XX 81,500 XX Primary silicon 44,800 XX 52,100 XX
Other 9,210 XX 9,340 XX Net metallic recovery from aluminum scrap and sweated pig consumed in production of secondary aluminum ingot 4/ 1,060,000 XX 1,130,000 XX r/ Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing 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/

1998 1999 Quantity Percent Quantity Percent (thousand of (thousand of Industry metric tons) grand total metric tons) grand total Containers and packaging 2,270 21.6 2,320 20.7 Building and construction 1,390 13.2 1,470 13.1 Transportation 3,250 30.8 3,600 32.2
Electrical 714 6.8 739 6.6
Consumer durables 725 6.9 760 6.8 Machinery and equipment 629 6.0 661 5.9
Other markets 273r/ 2.6r/ 293 2.6
Total to domestic users 9,260r/ 88.0 9,840 88.1 Exports e/ 1,260 12.0 1,330 11.9
Grand total 10,500 100.0 11,200 100.0
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)

1998 1999 Wrought products: Sheet, plate, foil 4,760r/ 5,040 Rod, bar, pipe, tube, shapes 1,560r/ 1,620 Rod, wire, cable 551r/ 573 Forgings (including impacts) 110r/ 118 Powder, flake, paste 54r/ 54
Total 7,040r/ 7,410 Castings:
Sand 134 NA Permanent and semipermanent mold 511 NA
Die 584 NA
Other 119 NA
Total 1,350 NA
Grand total 8,390 NA
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 no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

Source: The Aluminum Assocation 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)
1998: Azerbaijan

-- -- 18 $90

-- -- 18 $90
Brazil 374 $1,070 75,900 204,000 93 $62 76,400 205,000
Canada 118,000 192,000 427,000 1,110,000 149,000 154,000 695,0001,460,000
France 185 707 6,170 27,600 51 71 6,410 28,300 Germany 794 2,190 7,150 40,200 830 1,240 8,770 43,600 Hong Kong 917 1,550 14,800 41,100 32,000 35,000 47,800 77,600 Italy 85 325 2,530 12,100 8 11 2,630 12,500 Japan 60,600 99,900 20,700 125,000 35,800 41,700 117,000 267,000 Korea, Republic of 1,230 3,520 21,200 77,000 31,800 33,800 54,300 114,000
Mexico 75,700 127,000 150,000 443,000 63,700 74,200 289,000 644,000
Netherlands 177 380 1,190 6,320 11 61 1,380 6,760 Philippines 1 14 1,640 5,250 114 91 1,760 5,360
Russia 14 53 10 126 184 408 208 587
Saudi Arabia

-- -- 6,090 18,000

-- -- 6,090 18,000 Singapore 128 325 2,330 58,900 402 551 2,860 59,800
Slovakia

-- -- 56 273

-- -- 56 273
Slovenia

-- -- 130 321

-- -- 130 321
South Africa 55 106 348 1,950

-- -- 404 2,050
Taiwan 1,420 2,670 12,800 44,600 54,500 48,800 68,700 96,100
Thailand 5 23 8,620 23,800

-- -- 8,620 23,900
Ukraine 9 13

-- -- -- -- 9 13 United Kingdom 943 5,400 12,600 71,800 514 612 14,100 77,800
Venezuela 170 346 25,000 60,200 11 30 25,200 60,500
Other 4,290r/ 11,400 97,000r/ 345,000r/ 58,900 61,700 160,000 418,000
Total 265,000 449,000 893,000 2,720,000 428,000 453,000 1,590,0003,620,000
1999: Azerbaijan

-- -- 1 3

-- -- 1 3
Brazil 110 714 60,200 172,000 17 96 60,300 173,000
Canada 145,000 225,000 489,000 1,180,000 162,000 149,000 795,0001,560,000

France 143 541 6,990 30,900 85 129 7,220 31,500 Germany 1,610 6,900 5,640 32,200 90 279 7,340 39,400 Hong Kong 661 1,230 4,110 15,600 24,600 33,100 29,400 49,900 Italy 127 269 2,530 12,500 53 122 2,710 12,900 Japan 71,700 113,000 10,400 87,400 35,200 40,700 117,000 241,000 Korea, Republic of 798 2,440 16,700 53,100 29,300 29,100 46,800 84,600
Mexico 93,700 147,000 152,000 444,000 60,400 79,100 306,000 670,000
Netherlands 130 289 1,310 6,610 711 793 2,150 7,700 Philippines 14 65 536 2,460 296 98 847 2,620
Russia 5 73 9 85

-- -- 14 158
Saudi Arabia 1 7 8,150 22,400 64 128 8,210 22,500 Singapore 111 575 1,850 13,200 1,290 1,750 3,250 15,500
Slovakia

-- -- 9 54

-- -- 9 54
Slovenia

-- -- 55 128 3 12 58 140
South Africa (3/) 8 327 1,930 (3/) 4 328 1,940
Taiwan 660 1,740 10,900 33,200 31,300 29,800 42,900 64,800
Thailand 106 205 3,900 14,400 92 135 4,100 14,700
Ukraine

-- -- (3/) 4

-- -- (3/) 4 United Kingdom 1,040 5,270 16,700 72,800 403 810 18,100 78,800
Venezuela 229 1,990 17,900 38,700

-- -- 18,100 40,700
Other 2,640 7,610 98,500 330,000 73,500 80,000 175,000 418,000
Total 318,000 515,000 907,000 2,570,000 419,000 445,000 1,640,0003,530,000
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: Bureau of the Census.TABLE 9 U.S. EXPORTS OF ALUMINUM, BY CLASS 1/

1998 1999 Quantity Value Quantity Value
Class (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)
Crude and semicrude: Metals and alloys, crude 265,000 $449,000 318,000 $515,000 Scrap 428,000 453,000 419,000 445,000 Plates, sheets, bars, strip, etc. 847,000 2,420,000 857,000 2,280,000 Castings and forgings 10,700 141,000 15,300 113,000 Semifabricated forms, n.e.c. 35,900 162,000 34,600 171,000
Total 1,590,000 3,620,000 1,640,000 3,530,000
Manufactures:
Foil and leaf 65,400 215,000 65,000 211,000
Powders and flakes 9,010 37,400 8,320 35,800
Wire and cable 31,600 117,000 33,100 127,000
Total 106,000 369,000 106,000 374,000
Grand total 1,690,000 3,990,000 1,750,000 3,900,000 1/ Data are rounded to no more than 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/

1998 1999 Quantity Value Quantity Value
Class (metric tons) (thousands) (metric tons) (thousands)
Crude and semicrude: Metals and alloys, crude 2,400,000 $3,660,000 2,650,000 $3,760,000 Plates, sheets, strip, etc., n.e.c. 2/ 525,000 1,300,000 593,000 1,330,000 Pipes, tubes, etc. 14,600 75,600 24,100 98,100
Rods and bars 110,000 339,000 118,000 349,000 Scrap 501,000 572,000 615,000 666,000
Total 3,550,000 5,950,000 4,000,000 6,200,000
Manufactures:
Foil and leaf 3/ 69,300 227,000 89,900 271,000 Flakes and powders 2,180 7,290 3,560 10,100
Wire 83,500 152,000 97,600 172,000
Total 155,000 387,000 191,000 452,000
Grand total 3,700,000 6,340,000 4,190,000 6,660,000 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: 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)
1998: Argentina 22,900 $36,500 453 $940 1,750 $2,100 25,100 $39,500

Australia 54,300 78,300 2,630 6,860 40 47 56,900 85,200
Bahrain 1,180 1,730 14,100 30,200 65 73 15,400 32,100 Belgium 1,310 2,180 6,070 17,500 556 588 7,940 20,200
Brazil 45,700 67,100 306 1,260 9,250 9,450 55,300 77,800
Canada 1,420,0002,240,000 371,000 850,000 270,000 306,000 2,060,0003,400,000
Croatia

-- -- 441 1,520

-- -- 441 1,520 Czech Republic

-- -- 264 838

-- -- 264 838

France 263 4,520 13,900 73,000 7,850 6,370 22,000 83,900 Germany 1,080 5,450 51,900 205,000 1,470 1,720 54,500 212,000 Italy 7 28 4,700 16,000 223 317 4,930 16,300 Japan 387 1,500 24,400 83,400 1,340 1,480 26,100 86,300 Korea, Republic of 661 863 11,300 22,700 2,760 3,720 14,700 27,300
Mexico 591 1,190 12,700 35,900 80,700 99,000 93,900 136,000
Netherlands 728 1,250 4,400 14,100 1,960 2,240 7,090 17,600 Norway 4,370 8,960 727 1,500 313 412 5,410 10,900
Panama 180 382 687 1,840 6,270 6,330 7,140 8,560
Russia 605,000 845,000 27,100 58,200 28,400 30,400 661,000 934,000
Slovakia 335 445 7 11

-- -- 342 455
Slovenia

-- -- 4,700 16,600

-- -- 4,700 16,600
South Africa 15,300 21,900 3,400 7,090 469 583 19,100 29,600 Spain

-- -- 8,430 19,400 1,560 1,810 9,990 21,200 Tajikistan 20,700 29,800

-- -- -- -- 20,700 29,800
Ukraine 19,600 25,400

-- -- 1,320 1,590 20,900 27,000
United Arab Emirates 22,700 35,500 60 129 5,040 6,320 27,800 41,900 United Kingdom 10,600 15,700 19,300 77,400 12,100 14,200 42,000 107,000
Venezuela 98,600 168,000 25,100 46,600 18,400 24,900 142,000 239,000
Other 46,600 66,200 41,700 130,000 48,900 51,700 137,000 248,000r/
Total 2,400,0003,660,000 649,0001,720,000 501,000 572,000 3,550,0005,950,000
1999: Argentina 22,400 32,200 1,330 2,330 3,990 5,110 27,700 39,700
Australia 60,900 89,700 2,050 4,220 9 14 63,000 94,000
Bahrain 22,700 32,300 26,600 48,400

-- -- 49,200 80,700 Belgium 20 468 4,050 11,900 198 197 4,260 12,600
Brazil 56,700 74,100 1,720 3,450 33,100 37,800 91,500 115,000
Canada 1,500,0002,210,000 427,000 943,000 287,000 314,000 2,210,0003,460,000
Croatia

-- -- 273 933

-- -- 273 933 Czech Republic 83 106 591 1,740 40 45 714 1,890

France 492 4,960 11,800 53,500 11,500 10,400 23,900 68,900 Germany 813 4,490 38,900 146,000 6,810 10,100 46,500 161,000 Italy 2,130 2,530 3,030 9,780 518 581 5,670 12,900 Japan 429 942 23,600 80,100 816 929 24,800 82,000 Korea, Republic of

-- -- 21,400 42,300

-- -- 21,400 42,300
Mexico 2,460 4,280 17,700 56,100 86,100 90,700 106,000 151,000
Netherlands 1,280 2,070 3,490 10,400 10,700 13,100 15,400 25,600 Norway 3,280 6,270 1,610 2,830 140 142 5,030 9,240
Panama 367 650 1,230 3,340 5,820 6,390 7,420 10,400
Russia 711,000 939,000 54,700 96,800 65,300 68,600 831,0001,100,000
Slovakia 203 216 1 2

-- -- 204 218
Slovenia

-- -- 4,000 11,800

-- -- 4,000 11,800
South Africa 18,300 24,000 4,070 10,400 169 144 22,500 34,500 Spain 273 427 3,230 7,360 2,100 2,370 5,600 10,200 Tajikistan 17,200 20,600

-- -- -- -- 17,200 20,600
Ukraine 26,600 30,600 (3/) 10 5,510 6,310 32,200 36,900
United Arab Emirates 17,800 25,100

-- -- 3,240 3,130 21,000 28,300 United Kingdom 10,900 14,300 15,100 56,000 19,500 21,000 45,500 91,300
Venezuela 127,000 178,000 16,800 29,100 26,000 29,500 169,000 236,000
Other 53,000 69,700 51,200 143,000 46,500 45,300 151,000 258,000
Total 2,650,0003,760,000 735,0001,770,000 615,000 666,000 4,000,0006,200,000
r/ Revised. -- 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: Bureau of the Census.TABLE 12 ALUMINUM, PRIMARY: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY 1/ 2/

(Thousand metric tons)

Country 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 e/ Argentina 186 184 187r/ 187r/ 200
Australia 1,297 1,372 1,495 1,627 1,7183/ Azerbaijan 4 1 5

--r/ e/

-- Bahrain 451 461 490 501r/ 5033/ Bosnia and Herzegovina e/ 4/ 10 10 15 15 15
Brazil 1,188 1,195 1,200 1,208r/ 1,250
Cameroon e/ 79 82 91r/ 82r/ 92
Canada 2,172 2,283 2,327 2,374 2,3903/
China e/ 1,680 1,770 1,960 2,340r/ 2,450
Croatia 4/ 31 38 35e/ 35e/ 35 Egypt 180 179r/ 178r/ 187r/ 187
France 372 380 399e/ 424r/ 400 Germany 575 576 572 612r/ 600
Ghana 135 137 152 56e/ 114
Greece 144 141 133 146r/ 140 Hungary e/ 25 303/ 35 35 35
Iceland 5/ 100 104 123 163 160
India 6/ 537 531 484 542 550
Indonesia e/ 6/ 220 225 2163/ 130 100

Iran 119 70r/ 99r/ 109r/ 109 Italy 198 184 188 188e/ 190 Japan 7/ 18 17 17 16r/ 113/
Mexico 6/ 10 61 66 62r/ 62
Netherlands 216 227 232 264e/ 265
New Zealand 273 283r/ 310 307e/ 300 Nigeria

-- -- 3e/ 20e/ 16 Norway 847 863 919 996 1,0343/
Poland 8/ 56 52 54r/ 54r/ 55
Romania 9/ 141 141 163 150e/ 150
Russia 2,724 2,874 2,906 3,005 3,1463/ Serbia and Montenegro 4/ 17 37 66 65e/ 65
Slovakia e/ 6/ 31 35 35 35 35
Slovenia e/ 4/ 583/ 60 60 50 50
South Africa 229r/ 570 673 693r/ 687 Spain 361 362 360 362 360
Suriname 28 32 32e/ 29 10
Sweden 95 98 98 96e/ 96
Switzerland 21 27 27 32 30 Tajikistan 232 198 189e/ 196 2293/ Turkey 62 60r/ 62 62r/ 623/
Ukraine 98 90e/ 101 107 1123/
United Arab Emirates: Dubai 247r/ 259r/ 378r/ 387r/ 440 United Kingdom 238 240 248e/ 258r/ 2723/
United States 3,375 3,577 3,603 3,713 3,7793/
Venezuela 630 629 634r/ 585r/ 570
Total 19,700 20,700r/ 21,600r/ 22,500r/ 23,100
e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. -- Zero. 1/ World totals, U.S. data, 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 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, 2000. 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: ; 1995--28,411; 1996--29,351; 1997--36,136; and 1998--35,063 (revised); and 1999--34,000 (estimated). 8/ Primary unalloyed ingot plus secondary unalloyed ingot. 9/ Primary unalloyed metal plus primary alloyed metal, thus including weight of alloying material.