Aluminum—2004	 5.

1

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

Reference Cited section.

Aluminum

By Patricia A. Plunkert

Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Benjamin S. Goff, statistical assistant, and the world production table 

was prepared by Linder Roberts, international data coordinator.

the six operating domestic producers, all of whom responded to

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

Commercial Development Co. (CDC) of St. Louis, MO,

bought Kaiser Aluminum Corp.’s 200,000-metric-ton-per-year

(t/yr) primary aluminum smelter in Mead (Spokane), WA, at

auction for $7.4 million. CDC began dismantling the smelter

and selling the smelter equipment to prepare the site for possible

sale to other industrial users (Read, 2004§1).

Longview Aluminum L.L.C. permanently closed its 204,000-

t/yr primary aluminum smelter in Longview, WA. The courtappointed trustee for Longview abandoned the search for a

buyer/operator of the smelter and sold the equipment at auction

(Platts Metals Week, 2004c).

On January 30, Ormet Corp. filed voluntary petitions for

Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. bankruptcy Court for the

Southern District of Ohio. The Ormet subsidiaries involved in the

filing were Formcast Development Inc., Ormet Aluminum Mills

Products Corp., Ormet Primary Aluminum Corp., Ormet Railroad

Corp., Specialty Blanks Holding Corp., and Specialty Blanks Inc.

(Ormet Corp., 2004a). In May, Ormet announced the closure of a

third potline at its Hannibal, OH, smelter. The closure of the Ohio

River by the Army Corps of Engineers for emergency repairs

to the McAlpine Lock and Dam was cited as the reason for the

company’s decision to curtail production (Ormet Corp., 2004b). 

Earlier, Ormet had closed one-half of the billet casting capacity

at the smelter (Ormet Corp., 2004c). A fourth of six potlines was

closed after unionized workers commenced a work stoppage at

the facility in late November (Ormet Corp., 2004d).

In August, Alcoa Inc. announced the restart of 60,000 t/yr of

capacity the company had closed in April 2003 at its two Massena,

NY, smelters. The smelters returned to their combined full

operating capacity of 255,000 t/yr by yearend (Alcoa Inc., 2004s).

Alcoa also announced the restart of two of the four potlines at

its Wenatchee, WA, smelter that had been idled since July 2001. 

The restart was prompted by the signing of an interim labor

agreement. Members of the United Steelworkers of America

(USWA) and the Aluminum Trades Council of Wenatchee,

WA, voted to accept a labor agreement whereby employees at

Alcoa’s Wenatchee smelter would be placed on the company’s

“Select Benefits” healthcare benefits program beginning in

January 2005 until Alcoa’s master contract agreement with the

USWA covering 15 Alcoa facilities is renegotiated in 2006. The

ramp up of the two lines at the 184,000-t/yr smelter, which was

dependent on securing acceptable power contracts, was expected

to be completed by mid-2005 (Alcoa Inc., 2004a, t).

On November 2, members of the USWA ratified a new 5-year

labor contract that covered workers at Alcan Inc.’s Sebree, KY,

In 2004, 6 domestic companies operated 14 primary

aluminum smelters in 12 States and produced more than

2.5 million metric tons (Mt) of metal. Smelters east of the

Mississippi River accounted for about 75% of the production. 

The value of U.S. production was estimated to be about $4.7

billion. Four additional companies had plants that were idled

during the year. The 10 domestic producers had a total of 7

smelters that were either temporarily or permanently idled in

2004. At yearend, more than 1.6 million metric tons per year

(Mt/yr) of domestic primary aluminum smelting capacity,

including idled potlines at operating smelters, equivalent to

about 38% of total capacity, was closed.

Aluminum recovered from purchased scrap increased to

3.03 Mt. Of this recovered metal, about 60% came from new

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

aluminum products) scrap. Aluminum used beverage cans

(UBCs) accounted for about 58% of the reported old scrap

consumption in 2004. According to the Aluminum Association

Inc. (2005a), the recycling rate for aluminum UBCs was 51.2%.

The transportation and the container and packaging industries

remained the leading markets for aluminum products in Canada and

the United States in 2004. The transportation industry accounted

for 37% of metal shipments to the United States and Canadian

markets; containers and packaging, 22%; building and construction,

16%; consumer durables, 7%; electrical, 7%; and other uses, 11%.

U.S. imports for consumption increased by 14% in 2004

compared with those of 2003. Canada remained the leading

shipper of aluminum materials to the United States, followed by

Russia. Total exports from the United States in 2004 increased

by 18% compared with those of 2003.

The price of primary aluminum ingot on the domestic and the

international markets fluctuated during the year. The 2004 annual

average domestic price, however, increased significantly by almost

16 cents per pound compared with that of the previous year.

At the end of 2004, total world inventories of aluminum,

as reported by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI)

(2005), increased compared with those of 2003. Inventories of

aluminum metal and alloys held by the London Metal Exchange

Ltd. (LME), however, decreased.

Primary aluminum was produced in 41 countries in 2004. 

China, Russia, Canada, and the United States, in decreasing

order of metal produced, accounted for more than one-half

of total world production. World primary metal production

increased by about 7% compared with that of 2003.

Production

Primary.—Domestic primary aluminum production, which

totaled a reported 2,516,362 metric tons (t), decreased 7%

compared with that of 2003. Production data were obtained from
5. u.s. geologicAl survey minerals yearbook—2004

smelter. The contract reportedly included a 10.8% hourly wage

increase during the 5 years but workers would have to pay more

for their health insurance (Platts Metals Week, 2004e).

Workers at Alcoa’s Intalco aluminum smelter in Ferndale, WA,

voted down a new labor contract only to have it implemented

anyway when the workers would not agree to strike. A

representative of the International Association of Machinists &

Aerospace Workers Union reported that 74% of the employees

rejected the proposed new contract. When a majority of the

workers voted against a strike, however, the company’s final 4-

year offer was implemented. Only one of three potlines at the

Ferndale smelter operated in 2004 (Brooks, 2004a).

Members of the Aluminum Workers’ Trades Council AFL-CIO

reportedly accepted a new 4-year labor agreement with Columbia

Falls Aluminum Co., Columbia Falls, MT, to replace a 5-year

contract that expired on October 19. One of five potlines at the

smelter operated in 2004 (Platts Metals Week, 2004a).

Noranda Inc.selected AmerenUE (a subsidiary of Ameren

Corp.) asthe powersupplier to its 250,000-t/yr New Madrid, MO,

aluminum smelter. The letter of intent detailed a multiyear agreement

that was expected to become effective in 2005 (Brooks, 2004b).

Alcan’s shareholders and board of directors approved the

spinoff of the company’s rolled products businesses into an

independent company named Novelis Inc. Based on shipment

volumes, Novelis would be the world’s leading aluminum rolled

products company with 38 facilities operating in 12 countries. 

Competition authorities in both the United States and the

European Union confirmed that the spinoff satisfied the antitrust

divestment requirements associated with Alcan’s acquisition of

Pechiney in 2003 (Alcan Inc., 2004b).

Commonwealth Industries Inc. announced the sale of its

Alflex subsidiary, a leading manufacturer of electrical products

with operations in California and North Carolina, to Southwire

Company for a cash purchase price of approximately $60

million. The sale was part of Commonwealth’s strategic plan

to focus on its core competencies of materials recycling and

aluminum sheet (Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2004a).

JW Aluminum purchased Alcoa’s Alumax Foils with plants

in Russellville, AR, and St. Louis. The facilities manufactured

aluminum foil for sale to converters, who further processed the

foil to be used in industrial tapes, insulation, foodservice and

other flexible packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, and various

other end uses (Alcoa Inc., 2004e).

Indalex Aluminum Solutions Group, North America’s leading

independent supplier of aluminum extrusions, announced plans

to expand capacity and capability at its Connersville, IN, plant. 

Indalex acquired the Connersville plant in June as part of an

exchange of manufacturing assets with Ohio Valley Aluminum

Co. (OVACO). OVACO assumed ownership of the former

Indalex cast house in Niles, OH, that will supply aluminum

billet to Indalex under a 5-year contract (Indalex Aluminum

Solutions Group, 2004).

Alcoa and BHP Billiton announced the sale of their respective

equity interests in Integris Metals to Ryerson Tull for $410 million

in cash and the assumption of $250 million of Integris’ debt. 

Integris was a metals service center company that was formed in

November 2001 through the combination of the metals distribution

businesses of Alcoa and BHP Billiton (Alcoa Inc., 2004c).

Alcoa announced that members of the USWA at two of its

facilities—the Tifton Aluminium facility in Tifton, GA, and the

Hawesville, KY, automotive casting center—ratified new 3-year

labor agreements. Workers at both plants agreed to share costs

for health care, joining the company’s “Select Benefits” plan

(Alcoa Inc., 2004l).

Secondary.—Metal recovered from new and old scrap

increased to 3.03 Mt in 2004, according to data derived by the

USGS from its “Aluminum Scrap” survey (table 3). Of the 63

companies and/or plants to which monthly or annual survey

requests were sent, 32 responded; they represented 75% 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, Inc., 51.5 billion aluminum UBCs

were recycled in the United States in 2004, for a beverage

can recycling rate of 51.2%. This reflected a 1.2% increase

compared with the 2003 rate and the first increase since 1997

(Aluminum Association Inc., 2005a).

Hydro Aluminium AS (a subsidiary of Norsk Hydro ASA)

invested $8.3 million to upgrade the casthouse at its remelt

facility in St. Augustine, FL. The upgrade included the

installation of new casting technology, additional metal filtering

equipment, and a new saw line. Upon completion, capacity

at the plant would increase to 60,000 t/yr of billet (Hydro

Aluminium AS, 2004a).

IMCO Recycling Inc. announced a 50% expansion of

its Saginaw, MI, facility that supplied aluminum alloys to

General Motors Corp. (GM). The additional alloy production

would be used by GM’s Saginaw Metal Casting Operations to

manufacture the new all-aluminum V-8 engine for GM’s fullsize sport utility vehicles (IMCO Recycling Inc., 2004b).

Lancaster Aluminum LLC, a secondary smelter in Lebanon, PA,

was renamed Beck Aluminum Alloys Inc., signaling full ownership

by Beck Aluminum Corp., previously a part-owner of the 4-yearold facility. The facility has two electric induction furnaces and

a reverberatory furnace with a combined capacity of more than

45,000 t/yr (100 million pounds per year) (Schaffer, 2004).

Industry Merger.—IMCO and Commonwealth merged to form

a new company, Aleris International Inc. Aleris, which would be

headquartered in Cleveland, OH, became one of the world’s leading

recyclers of aluminum and zinc and a leading U.S. manufacturer of

aluminum sheet (Aleris International Inc., 2004). Commonwealth,

a manufacturer of aluminum sheet, had direct-chill casting facilities

in Kentucky and continuous casting minimills in California and

Ohio. IMCO, one of the world’s leading recyclers of aluminum

and zinc, had 21 U.S. production plants and 5 international

facilities located in Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and Wales, United

Kingdom. Most of the aluminum metal recovered by IMCO was

used by the construction, packaging, and transportation industries. 

The company’s zinc plants purchased and recycled zinc scrap

to produce zinc dust, zinc metal, and zinc oxide for a variety of

industrial markets (Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2004b).

Consumption

The end-use shipment data reported by the Aluminum

Association included aluminum product shipments in the United
Aluminum—2004	 5.

States and Canada. In 2004, the combined United States and

Canadian shipments of aluminum products to the transportation

industry totaled 3.86 Mt. Shipments to the container and packaging

industry, which was the second ranked end-use market, was 2.31 

Mt. Total shipments, excluding exports, of aluminum products in

2004 increased by 7% compared with those of 2003 (table 6).

Automotive applications continued to dominate aluminum

use in the U.S. transportation industry. There were several

announcements during the year affecting the aluminum wheel

industry. Hayes Lemmerz International Inc. closed its aluminum

automotive wheel manufacturing plant in Howell, MI, and

transferred the plant’s production to other U.S. facilities. The

closure was expected to reduce costs and to improve efficiencies

and capacity utilization (American Metal Market, 2004a). GM 

reportedly planned to replace 2 million aluminum wheels on

a number of its models with high-performance steel wheels

(Burgert, 2004a). In contrast, Superior Industries International

Inc. was awarded four new aluminum wheel supply contracts for

DaimlerChrysler AG’s 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty

(American Metal Market, 2004b). Alcoa launched a new family of

forged aluminum wheels for the 2005 Ford Motor Co. Super Duty

truck line and eight new cast aluminum wheels for Nissan North

America Inc. and DaimlerChrysler (Alcoa Inc., 2004j, k).

Toyota Motor Corp. announced plans to double the size of its

Huntsville, AL, engine plant that would increase capacity by

150,000 units per year. The expansion would allow the plant

to supply additional V-8 engines for pickup and sport utility

vehicles being built in Toyota’s Indiana and Texas assembly

plants (American Metal Market, 2004c).

GM debuted an innovative aluminum forming process, quick

plastic forming (QPF). The QPF process was developed for

automotive applications and was adapted from a hot blow forming

process used in the aerospace industry. The process was used to

create the panels for the 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx lift gate. By

using QPF, GM was able to make the entire outer panel for the lift

gate as one piece instead of two and cut the weight of the gate by

nearly one-half (General Motors Corp., 2004).

A recent study indicated that railcar deliveries were expected to

increase to 60,000 cars per year by 2009 from 42,000 cars shipped

in 2004. One reason given for the growth was the increase in the

use of low-sulfur coal by powerplants and the need to transport

that coal from western mines to eastern plants. About 60% of the

current fleet of rail cars has steel bodies that could be replaced

with lighter weight aluminum bodies (Burgert, 2004c).

Kaiser shipped more than 1,800 t (4 million pounds) of

aluminum plate to specialized producers of vehicle armor kits

for military applications. Kaiser shipped most of the plate to

Armor Holdings Aerospace & Defense Group that used the

aluminum in combination with steel to provide ground-vehicle

armor and mine blast kits for U.S. military vehicles such as the

Humvee and heavy trucks (Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 2004a).

Pittsburgh Brewing Company, along with Alcoa and CCL 

Container, introduced a new aluminum bottle for its Iron City beer. 

The Iron City aluminum beer bottle was the first of its kind to be

launched nationally. Alcoa and Pittsburgh Brewing continued

their tradition of innovation in packaging that began in 1962 with

the introduction of the first pull-top aluminum can (Alcoa Inc.,

2004v). In December, Anheuser Busch Companies Inc. announced

that several of its beers would be available in 16-ounce aluminum

bottles at select bars and clubs in test cities across the country. 

The new aluminum bottles would be manufactured by Exal USA

(Anheuser Busch Companies Inc., 2004).

In the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, aluminum was

used for the Olympic Torch as well as the altar where the Olympic

flame burned. The torch was made of a combination of aluminum

and wood, and was created by Greek industrial designer Andreas

Varostos to have the appearance of an olive leaf (JOM, 2004).

Stocks

Producer inventory data reported by the Aluminum

Association included inventories held by the United States and

Canadian producers. The combined United States and Canadian

producers inventories of aluminum ingot, mill products, and

scrap increased to 1.47 Mt at yearend 2004 from 1.40 Mt

at yearend 2003 (Aluminum Association Inc., 2005b). The

LME reported that primary aluminum metal ingot at its U.S.

warehouses decreased dramatically to 11,900 t at yearend

2004 from more than 107,000 t at yearend 2003. At yearend,

U.S. LME warehouses also held more than 104,000 t of North

American Special Aluminium Alloy Contract (NASAAC) metal

ingot, an increase from the 99,300 t held at the end of 2003. 

These U.S. warehouses no longer held any aluminum alloy

ingot, having shipped out the 700 t of aluminum alloy held at

the end of 2003 (London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2004).

Prices

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

metal, as reported by Platts Metals Week, fluctuated throughout

most of the year. The monthly average price began the year

at 76.6 cents per pound, the low for the year and, by April,

had risen to 84.6 cents per pound. The monthly average price

fluctuated during the next few months before starting a steady

climb that began in September and ended the year at 91 cents

per pound, the highest monthly average since February 1995. 

The average price in 2004 increased to 84.0 cents per pound, up

significantly from 68.1 cents per pound in 2003.

The LME average monthly cash price for high-grade primary

aluminum ingot and the average monthly spot settlement price

for primary aluminum ingot on the COMEX division of the New

York Commodity Exchange, Inc. followed the same general trend

as the U.S. market price. The 2004 average annual LME cash

price increased to 77.8 cents per pound from 64.9 cents per pound

in 2003. The COMEX monthly average spot settlement price

increased from 76.3 cents per pound in January to 89.6 cents per

pound in December and averaged 83.1 cents per pound for the year.

Purchase prices for aluminum scrap, as quoted by American

Metal Market, also fluctuated but closed at slightly higher levels

than those at the beginning of the year. The 2004 yearend price

ranges for selected types of aluminum scrap were as follows: 

mixed low-copper-content aluminum clips, 61 to 62 cents per

pound; old sheet and cast aluminum, 56 to 58 cents per pound;

and clean, dry aluminum turnings, 54 to 55 cents per pound.

Aluminum producers’ buying price range for processed and

delivered UBCs, as quoted by American Metal Market, also
5. u.s. geologicAl survey minerals yearbook—2004

closed higher at yearend. The price range began the year at 53.5

to 55.0 cents per pound and closed the year at 63 to 65 cents per

pound. The annual average American Metal Market price for

aluminum UBCs increased to 61.0 cents per pound in 2004 from

50.5 cents per pound in 2003.

The yearend indicator prices for selected secondary aluminum

ingots, as published in American Metal Market, also increased

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

prices for 2004 were as follows: alloy A380 (3% zinc content),

87.5 cents per pound; alloy B380 (1% zinc content), 90.2 cents per

pound; alloy A360 (0.6% copper content), 94.0 cents per pound;

alloy A413 (0.6% copper content), 93.9 cents per pound; and alloy

319, 92.6 cents per pound. Platts Metals Week published an annual

average U.S. price of 82.3 cents per pound for A380 alloy (3%

zinc content). The average annual LME cash price for a similar

A380 alloy was 70.7 cents per pound and the annual average LME

NASAAC cash price was 74.4 cents per pound.

Trade

Total exports of aluminum materials from the United States in

2004 were higher than those of 2003 (table 8). More than 80%

of total U.S. exports in 2004 was shipped to Canada, China,

and Mexico. Ninety percent of the shipments to China were

in the form of aluminum scrap. Imports for consumption also

increased compared with those of the previous year (table 10). 

Canada remained the major source country, contributing more

than one-half of the total imports in 2004 (table 11), and Russia

continued to be the second ranked supplier.

World Review

World production of primary aluminum metal increased by

7% in 2004 compared with that of 2003 (table 12). China,

Russia, Canada, and the United States, in decreasing order of

metal produced, accounted for more than one-half of total world

production.

Unwrought aluminum inventories held by members of the IAI 

increased to 1.79 Mt at yearend 2004 from 1.63 Mt at yearend

2003. Unwrought aluminum is defined by the IAI as aluminum

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

is unworked in the metallurgical sense. IAI total aluminum

inventories increased to 3.18 Mt at yearend 2004 from 2.97 Mt

at yearend 2003. Total aluminum is unwrought aluminum plus

unprocessed scrap, metal in process, and finished semifabricated

(mill) products (International Aluminium Institute, 2005).

Yearend 2004 inventories of primary aluminum metal held by the

LME decreased significantly to 693,000 t from 1.42 Mt at yearend

2003. Aluminum alloy inventories also decreased to 40,400 t at

yearend 2004 from 62,600 t at yearend 2003; but NASAAC ingot

inventories increased to 104,000 t at yearend 2004 from 99,300 t at

yearend 2003 (London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2004).

Australia.—Hydro Aluminium began improvements to Potline

1 at its Kurri Kurri smelter in New South Wales. Upon completion

of the upgrade, scheduled for late 2005, capacity at the smelter

would increase by 6,800 t/yr to 160,000 t/yr, and emissions of

dust, fluorides, and greenhouse gases were expected to be reduced

by 50% to 95% (Hydro Aluminium AS, 2004e). Hydro also

announced an upgrade to the casthouse at the Kurri Kurri smelter. 

The upgrade would extend the smelter’s product range beyond

standard T-bars to include the production of primary foundry alloys

and extrusion ingots (Hydro Aluminium AS, 2004c).

Brazil.—Alcoa signed a 20-year power supply agreement

with Centrais Elétricas do Norte do Brasil SA (Eletronorte), a

regional energy producer and seller, to purchase hydropowered

electricity to supply its share of aluminum production capacity

at the Alumar smelter in Sao Luis (Alcoa Inc., 2004f). Having

secured the long-term power supply agreement, Alcoa began a

63,000-t/yr expansion project at Alumar. The Alumar smelter

is a joint venture with BHP Billiton. Upon completion of the

$130 million expansion, scheduled for late 2005, capacity at

the smelter will increase to 433,000 t/yr from 370,000 t/yr, and

Alcoa’s share of the output will increase from 54% to 60%

(Alcoa Inc., 2004q).

Aluminio Brasileiro S.A. (Albras) [a joint venture of

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) (51%) and Nippon

Amazon Aluminum Co. Ltd. (NAAC ) (49%)] also signed a

20-year agreement with Eletronorte to supply electricity to its

436,000-t/yr smelter in Barcarena (Companhia Vale do Rio

Doce, 2004).

In 2003, Brazil recycled 89% of all aluminum cans sold in

the country, according to the Brazilian aluminum association,

Associação Brasiliera do Alumínio (Abal), and the Brazilian

canmakers association, Associação Brasiliera dos Fabricantes

de Latas de Alta Reciclabilidade. The 89% recycling rate

corresponded to 112,000 t of aluminum or 8.2 billion cans. 

Abal attributed the growth in Brazil’s recycling rate to greater

participation in collection-related activities. There were more

than 6,000 aluminum UBCs purchase points in Brazil, and

Abal estimated that more 160,000 people earned a living by

aluminum can recycling (Kinch, 2004).

Canada.—Indalex announced plans to build a third extrusion

press at its Point Claire, Quebec, extrusion plant increasing

capacity by 40% to about 9,000 t/yr (19.8 million pounds per

year) (Foster, 2004).

Triple M Metal announced plans to build a 90,700-t/yr

(200-million-pound-per-year) aluminum remelt plant in

Brampton, Ontario. The plant, which would operate under the

name Matalco Inc., was designed to produce extrusion billet

from aluminum scrap. The company expected the plant to be

operational by the end of 2005 (Platts Metals Week, 2004d).

Alcan announced the permanent closure of four Soderberg

potlines at its Jonquiere (Arvida) primary aluminum smelter

in Saguenay, Quebec, resulting in the loss of 90,000 t/yr of

production capacity. The remaining 163,000 t/yr of capacity

using prebaked technology was not affected (Alcan Inc., 2004d).

Alcoa suspended the modernization project at its Baie Comeau

smelter announced in 2003. The project included the replacement

of Soderberg cells and the upgrade of the prebaked potlines that

would have resulted in increased production capacity. Despite the

cancellation, Alcoa announced its intention to keep the 438,000-

t/yr smelter operating at least until 2010, as long as environmental

compliance requirements, energy availability, and market

conditions would allow (Alcoa Inc., 2004h).

Alcoa and the Syndicat des Metallurgists unis d’Amerique

approved a new 5-year labor agreement covering workers at the
Aluminum—2004	 5.

403,000-t/yr Aluminerie de Becancour (ABI) smelter in Quebec. 

Alcoa announced plans to restart the smelter, which had been

operating at one-third its capacity since July, as soon as possible,

with full production expected by the end of April 2005. Alcoa

(75%) was the operating partner of the joint venture with Alcan

(25%) (Alcoa Inc., 2004u).

Dubai.—Dubai Aluminium Company Ltd. (Dubal) awarded

three contracts to SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. for work on its Jebel

Ali aluminum smelter. The contracts included a feasibility

study for the rehabilitation of the smelters oldest three potlines

and engineering and construction management of a seventh

potline and a new casthouse. Upon completion, the smelter’s

capacity was expected to increase to 761,000 t/yr from 686,000

t/yr (SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., 2004).

Egypt.—In September, Aluminium Co. of Egypt (Egyptalum)

resumed its upgrade to Potline 5. In February, the upgrade was

delayed because of necessary repairs to the smelter’s wiring

and electrical equipment after 24 of the 96 planned pots had

been installed. Upon completion of the upgrade, capacity at the

smelter would increase to 250,000 t/yr from 195,000 t/yr (Platts

Metals Week, 2004b).

France.—Alcan finalized the acquisition, agreed to by

Pechiney in July 2003, of the remaining 65% of the Aluminium

Dunkerque smelter. With the 35% share in the smelter owned

by Pechiney, now an Alcan subsidiary, Alcan became the sole

owner of this 250,000-t/yr smelter (Alcan Inc., 2004a).

Germany.—IMCO announced that its German subsidiary

(VAW-IMCO Guss und Recycling GmbH) signed a long-term

agreement to supply molten aluminum alloys to DaimlerChrysler. 

Some of this metal would come from a new recycling facility

that IMCO planned to build in Deizisau, near DaimlerChrysler’s

foundry in Stuttgart. The plant was expected to begin operations

in early 2006 (IMCO Recycling Inc., 2004a).

Ghana.—Kaiser completed the sale of its interests in Volta

Aluminium Company Limited (Valco) to the Government of

Ghana. The sale included Kaiser’s 90% interest in Valco’s 200,000-

t/yr primary aluminum smelter (Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 2004b).

Greece.—At yearend, Alcan announced that it entered into

a binding agreement to sell its controlling interest (60.2%)

in Aluminium de Grece S.A. (ADG) to Mytilineos Holdings

S.A. of Greece. Under the terms of the agreement, Mytilineos

and certain affiliated companies would acquire a 53% equity

position in ADG. The balance of Alcan’s interest may be sold

to Mytilineos at a later date. The sale of shares and completion

of the transaction was subject to approval from the competition

authorities as well as the Greek Ministry of Development. 

ADG is an integrated aluminum company consisting of bauxite

mining operations, an 850,000-t/yr alumina refinery, and a

165,000-t/yr aluminum smelter (Alcan Inc., 2004e).

Iceland.—Century Aluminum Co. acquired Nordural

Aluminium hf from Columbia Ventures Corp. Nordural owned

and operated a 90,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter in

Grundartangi, Iceland (Century Aluminum Co., 2004b). Upon

reaching agreements on long-term energy supplies, Century began

work on expansion of the Nordural smelter that was expected to

increase capacity to 212,000 t/yr by October 2006. The energy

agreement included power supply contingencies for an additional

8,000 t/yr of capacity, which could bring capacity at the smelter

to 220,000 t/yr by yearend 2006. Upon completion of the

expansion, the Nordural plant would have all of the infrastructure

and support facilities necessary for a further expansion to 260,000

t/yr at a later date (Century Aluminum Co., 2004a).

Alcoa broke ground on its 322,000-t/yr Fjardaal aluminum

smelter in east Iceland. The $1.1 billion project was the company’s

first greenfield smelter in 20 years. The smelter was scheduled to

begin production in the spring of 2007 (Alcoa Inc., 2004d).

India.—National Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Nalco) reportedly

received Government approval of its $895 million expansion

plan. The plan included the company’s bauxite, alumina, and

aluminum operations. Bauxite production from Nalco’s mines

in the Koraput District would increase to 6.3 Mt/yr from 4.8

Mt/yr. Capacity at the alumina refinery in Damanjodi would

increase to 2.1 Mt/yr from 1.58 Mt/yr, and the Angul smelter’s

capacity would increase to 460,000 t/yr from 345,000 t/yr. The

expansion also would require an increase in Nalco’s electricity

generation capacity to 1,200 megawatts (MW) from the current

level of 960 MW (Mining Journal, 2004).

Kazakhstan.—RUSAL and Eurasian Financial-Industrial Co.

signed a memorandum creating Eurasian Aluminium Co., a joint

company that planned to build a new 500,000-t/yr aluminum

smelter and a 1.5-Mt/yr alumina refinery in Kazakhstan. Work

on the refinery must begin within 18 months of the company

being registered (CRU Alumina Monitor, 2004).

Mexico.—In August, Norsk Hydro began construction of a

new aluminum precision tubing plant in Reynosa for automotive

heat transfer applications. Production was expected to start in

late 2005 (Hydro Aluminium AS, 2004b).

Nigeria.—Alcoa confirmed the sale of its 10% stake in the

Aluminum Smelter Co. of Nigeria (Alscon) smelter in Ikot

Abasi to the Government of Nigeria. Alcoa obtained its stake in

the smelter as part of its acquisition of Reynolds Metals Co. in

2000 (Alcoa Inc., 2004o).

Norway.—Norsk Hydro completed the expansion of its

Sunndal primary aluminum smelter increasing production

capacity to 360,000 t/yr. The plant uses Hydro’s HAL 275

technology (Norsk Hydro ASA, 2005, p. 24).

Alcoa announced plans to build a $314 million anode plant

in Mosjoen, Norway. The facility, which was to be built with

Elkem ASA, would produce anode for Alcoa’s Fjardaal smelter

in Iceland and the Mosjoen smelter in Norway, a 50-50 joint

venture of Alcoa and Elkem. Construction was expected to be

completed by 2007 (Alcoa Inc., 2004p).

Oman.—Alcan signed a memorandum of understanding with

Oman Oil Company and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity

Authority for a 20% equity interest in the development of a

proposed 330,000-t/yr primary aluminum smelter in Sohar. 

Alcan would license its Pechiney AP30 technology and take a

leading role in the construction and operation of the smelter. 

Alcan also had the option to acquire up to 60% of a planned

second 330,000-t/yr potline (Alcan Inc., 2004f).

Qatar.—Dubal and Qatar’s United Development Co. (UDC)

abandoned a proposed plan to build a 516,000-t/yr primary

aluminum smelter in the Ras Laffan industrial complex (CRU 

Aluminium Monitor, 2004).

Norsk Hydro and Qatar Petroleum signed an agreement to

construct an aluminum smelting complex in the Mesaieed Industrial
5. u.s. geologicAl survey minerals yearbook—2004

Area, south of Doha. Planned smelter capacity of the first phase

was 570,000 t/yr of primary aluminum based on Hydro’s reduction

cell technology. The project also included an anode plant, a

casthouse, and a dedicated powerplant. The project, which would

be owned 51% by Qatar Petroleum and 49% by Hydro, could be

completed by 2009 (Hydro Aluminium AS, 2004d).

Romania.—Alcoa began construction of a new extrusion

facility in Arad County, in northwestern Romania. Upon

completion in 2005, the facility would have two presses to supply

building and construction products for sale to commercial and

residential customers throughout Europe (Alcoa Inc., 2004r).

Russia.—RUSAL announced the completion of the first

upgrade of the casthouse at its Sayanogorsk aluminum smelter. 

Extrusion billet production capacity was increased to 80,000 t/yr

from 30,000 t/yr, and the facility’s product mix was broadened. 

A second stage upgrade to 160,000 t/yr was anticipated

(RUSAL, 2004a). RUSAL also announced plans to add a new

35,000-t/yr aluminum alloy casting complex at its Krasnoyarsk

smelter. The project was expected to be completed in 2006

(RUSAL, 2004b).

RUSAL announced that Bechtel Corporation had been hired

to prepare a feasibility study for the construction of a 600,000-

t/yr primary aluminum smelter in the Irkutsk region between

Taishet and Talaya. The smelter would use RA-300 technology

developed at RUSAL’s Engineering and Technical Center. A

5-kilometer rail line would also be built to connect the site with

the rail station at Taishet (RUSAL, 2004c).

Alcoa announced that it had received final approvals from

the Russian Government to proceed with the purchase of

RUSAL’s controlling interests in the Samara and Belaya Kalitva

fabrication plants. These plants have casting, extrusion, forging,

and rolling capabilities (Alcoa Inc., 2004m).

South Africa.—Alcan announce that it would conduct a new

feasibility study for the construction of a 660,000-t/yr aluminum

smelter in Coega, Eastern Cape Province. The new study would

evaluate the use of AP30 or AP35 smelting technologies. The

study was scheduled to be completed in 2005 (Alcan Inc., 2004c).

Spain.—Alcoa announced plans to invest €64 million ($80

million) in technology and environmental improvements

at its smelters in Aviles, LaCoruna, and San Ciprian. The

improvements reportedly would allow the plants to achieve

environmental standards set by the European Union scheduled

to take effect in 2007 (Alcoa Inc., 2004i).

Trinidad and Tobago.—Alcoa and the Government of the

Trinidad and Tobago signed a memorandum of understanding to

build an aluminum smelter at LaBrea with a capacity of at least

250,000 t/yr. The new smelter and related facilities, including a

powerplant and an anode plant, was projected to cost in excess

of $1 billion. Natural gas from local fields would be converted

to electricity for the smelter and the national grid. Alcoa would

own 60% of the smelter and a Government enterprise would

control the remainder (Alcoa Inc., 2004g). An environmental

impact assessment was begun and pending its findings, an

investment decision was expected in 2005 (Alcoa Inc., 2004b).

Turkey.—Hayes Lemmerz formed a joint venture to be known

as Jantas Aluminum Wheels that would produce 1.5 million

aluminum wheels annually. Partners in the venture to be located in

Manisa, included Hayes (40%), Cromodora Wheels Spa of Ghedi,

Italy (35%), and Turkey’s Inci Holding AS (35%) (Burgert, 2004b).

Venezuela.—Alcoa announced the sale of Aluminum

Reynolds de Venezuela (Alreyven) to Topes Y Techos S.A. 

Alreyven, a small extrusion company that was acquired by

Alcoa as part of the Reynolds acquisition in 2000, produced

about 2,800 t/yr of extrusions (Alcoa Inc., 2004n).

Outlook

World aluminum supply appears to be adequate to meet

future growth in demand. Announced brownfield and greenfield

expansions will replace and supplement announced and

anticipated smelter closures. Recent shortages in alumina should

ease as planned refinery expansions come onstream to help

reverse the recent rise in alumina costs for primary smelters. 

The effect of China on the world aluminum industry is still the

unanswered question. An increase in the long-term demand for

aluminum in China is expected, but whether that demand will be

met by domestic or foreign supply has yet to be determined.

References Cited

Alcan Inc., 2004a, Alcan acquires entire interest in Aluminium Dunkerque: 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, January 6, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2004b, Alcan shareholders approve Novelis spin-off: Montreal,

Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, December 22, 2 p.

Alcan Inc., 2004c, Alcan, South African Government to conduct new feasibility

study: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, November 18, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2004d, Alcan to halt production at its 60-year-old Jonquiere

Soderberg aluminum smelter in Quebec: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan

Inc. press release, January 22, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2004e, Alcan to sell its controlling interest in Aluminium de Grece: 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, December 29, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2004f, Alcan to take a 20% interst in 330kt/y Oman smelter: 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, June 30, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004a, Alcoa and union reach accord on Wenatchee, saving 400

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

Alcoa Inc., 2004b, Alcoa begins environmental impact assessment for proposed

aluminum smelter in Trinidad and Tobago: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press

release, September 10, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004c, Alcoa, BHP Billiton to sell Integris Metals to Ryerson Tull

for $660 million: New York, NY, Alcoa Inc. press release, October 26, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004d, Alcoa breaks ground on $1.1 billion Iceland smelter; Fjardaal

smelter on track to make aluminum in spring 2007: Pittsburgh, PA, and

Reydarfjordur, Iceland, Alcoa Inc. press release, July 8, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004e, Alcoa completes sale of Russellville and St. Louis foil facilities

to JW Aluminum: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, April 2, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004f, Alcoa finalizes power supply agreement to Alumar; Brazilian

upstream expansions could total more than $1 billion: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa

Inc. press release, June 18, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004g, Alcoa, Government of Trinidad and Tobago sign MOU to

build new smelter: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, May 24, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004h, Alcoa halts modernization project at Baie-Comeau: BaieComeau, Quebec, Canada, Alcoa Inc. press release, June 28, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004i, Alcoa invests 64 million euros in environment and technology

in Spanish smelters: Geneva, Switzerland, Alcoa Inc. press release, October

24, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004j, Alcoa launches eight new cast aluminum wheels for

automakers: Farmington Hills, MI, Alcoa Inc. press release, October 5, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004k, Alcoa launches new “family” of forged aluminum wheels

for the 2005 Super Duty truck line; Alcoa achieves a new “time-to-market”

milestone: Farmington Hills, MI, Alcoa Inc. press release, October 5, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004l, Alcoa reaches new labor agreements with unions at two

facilities: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, December 3, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004m, Alcoa receives final approvals from the Russian Government

to acquire Samara and Belaya Kalitva fabricating facilities from RUSAL: 

New York, NY, Alcoa Inc. press release, December 31, 1 p.
Aluminum—2004	 5.

Alcoa Inc., 2004n, Alcoa sells Alreyven to Topes Y Techos S.A.: Pittsburgh,

PA, and Caracas, Venezuela, Alcoa Inc. press release, December 2, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004o, Alcoa sells its 10% stake in Alscon: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa

Inc. press release, February 19, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004p, Alcoa to build new anode plant to serve Fjardaal in Iceland

and Mosjoen in Norway: New York, NY, Alcoa Inc. press release, November

16, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004q, Alcoa to expand Sao Luis, Brazil-Alumar-Aluminum smelter

by 63,000 metric tons: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, July 20, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004r, Alcoa to open extrusion facility in northwest Romania: 

Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, March 12, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004s, Alcoa to re-start idle capacity at Massena, NY smelters;

modernization key to Massena’s viability; long-term power contract needed: 

Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, August 25, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004t, Alcoa unions in Wenatchee vote to accept agreement;

company to begin restart efforts at idle facility: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc.

press release, October 8, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004u, New labor pact approved at Alcoa’s ABI smelter: Pittsburgh,

PA, and Quebec, Canada, Alcoa Inc. press release, November 22, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004v, Pittsburgh Brewing and Alcoa team-up on launch of first

national beer in an aluminum bottle: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release,

August 24, 1 p.

Aleris International Inc., 2004, IMCO Recycling, Commonwealth Industries: 

Irving, TX, and Louisville, KY, Aleris International Inc. presss release,

December 9, 1 p.

Aluminum Association Inc., 2005a, Aluminum beverage can recycling rate rising:

Washington, DC, Aluminum Association Inc. press release, May 20, 2 p.

Aluminum Association Inc., 2005b, The aluminum situation: Washington, DC,

Aluminum Association Inc., March, 4 p.

American Metal Market, 2004a, Aluminum wheel plant set to shut: American

Metal Market, v. 112, no. 14-2, April 6, p. 4.

American Metal Market, 2004b, Superior spins wheels for Chrysler: American

Metal Market, v. 112, no. 39-3, September 29, p. 8.

American Metal Market, 2004c, Toyota engine plant in Ala. to double in size: 

American Metal Market, v. 112, no. 39-2, September 28, p. 2.

Anheuser Busch Companies Inc., 2004, Cold and bold—New aluminum

bottles give Michelob, Michelob Light, and Anheuser World Select sleek,

modern look: St. Louis, MO, Anheuser Busch Companies Inc. press release,

December 16, 1 p.

Brooks, David, 2004a, Intalco union gets new pact via back door: American

Metal Market, v. 112, no. 42-2, October 19, p. 4.

Brooks, David, 2004b, Noranda picks energy supplier for Mo. smelter: 

American Metal Market, v. 112, no. 44-1, November 1, p. 1-2.

Burgert, Phillip, 2004a, Advanced steels recapture aluminum wheel applications:

American Metal Market, v. 112, no. 32-1, August 9, p. 5.

Burgert, Phillip, 2004b, Hayes in Turkish aluminum wheel venture: American

Metal Market, v. 112, no. 33-2, August 17, p. 4.

Burgert, Phillip, 2004c, Rail car boom bodes well for aluminum: American

Metal Market, v. 112, no. 39-1, September 27, p. 4.

Century Aluminum Co., 2004a, Century Aluminum broadens expansion plans

in Iceland: Monterey, CA, Century Aluminum Co. press release, November

3, 2 p.

Century Aluminum Co., 2004b, Century Aluminum completes acquisition and

financing of Iceland aluminum plant: Monterey, CA, Century Aluminum Co.

press release, April 27, 1 p.

Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2004a, Commonwealth Industries agrees to sell

Alflex electrical products unit: Louisville, KY, Commonwealth Industries

Inc. press release, June 7, 2 p.

Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2004b, IMCO Recycling and Commonwealth

Industries announce definitive merger agreement: Irving, TX, and Louisville,

KY, Commonwealth Industries Inc. press release, June 17, 4 p.

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, 2004, Albras purchases electricity for 20 years: 

Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce press release, May 4, 1 p.

CRU Alumina Monitor, 2004, Capacity expansions/production: CRU Alumina

Monitor, June, p. 8.

CRU Aluminium Monitor, 2004, Company news: CRU Aluminium Monitor,

February, p. 14.

Foster, Kevin, 2004, Indalex sees 3d Quebec aluminum extrusion press lifting

output 40%: American Metal Market, v. 112, no. 34-1, August 23, p. 7.

General Motors Corp., 2004, Aluminum forming enables innovative

manufacturing: Warren, MI, General Motors Corp. press release, January 27,

1 p.

Hydro Aluminium AS, 2004a, Casthouse upgrade in St. Augustine, Florida: 

Oslo, Norway, Hydro Aluminium AS press release, February 5, 1 p.

Hydro Aluminium AS, 2004b, Hydro to build plant in Mexico: Oslo, Norway,

Hydro Aluminium AS press release, June 22, 1 p.

Hydro Aluminium AS, 2004c, Hydro to upgrade casthouse in Australia: Oslo,

Norway, Hydro Aluminium AS press release, November 17, 1 p.

Hydro Aluminium AS, 2004d, Qatar Petroleum and Hydro plan world-class

aluminium project: Oslo, Norway, Hydro Aluminium AS press release,

December 5, 2 p.

Hydro Aluminium AS, 2004e, Upgrade at Kurri Kurri reducing emissions,

increasing output: Oslo, Norway, Hydro Aluminium AS press release, April

19, 1 p.

IMCO Recycling Inc., 2004a, IMCO Recycling’s German subsidiary signs

long-term supply agreement with DaimlerChrysler AG: Irving, TX, IMCO

Recycling Inc. press release, October 21, 1 p.

IMCO Recycling Inc., 2004b, IMCO Recycling will add capacity to provide

increased aluminum alloys shipments to General Motors: Irving, TX, IMCO

Recycling Inc. press release, March 24, 1 p.

Indalex Aluminum Solutions Group, 2004, Indalex invests to expand capacity,

capability at Connersville plant: Lincolnshire, IL, Indalex Aluminum

Solutions Group press release, December 22, 1 p.

International Aluminium Institute, 2005, Aluminium inventories: International

Aluminium Institute Form 351, April 26, 3 p.

JOM, 2004, Aluminum medals in 2004 Olympics: JOM, v. 56, no. 8, August,

p. 5-6.

Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 2004a, Kaiser Aluminum aids effort to provide armor

for military vehicles: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum Corp. press release,

December 21, 1 p.

Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 2004b, Kaiser Aluminum completes sale of Valco

interests: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum Corp. press release, November 1,

1 p.

Kinch, Diana, 2004, Brazil retains No. 1 rank with 89% aluminum can recycling

rate in ’03: American Metal Market, v. 112, no. 11-4, March 18, p. 5.

London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2004, Aluminium stocks: London, United

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

Mining Journal, 2004, Government approves Nalco expansion: Mining Journal,

October 15, p. 5.

Norsk Hydro ASA, 2005, Annual report—2004: Oslo, Norway, Norsk Hydro

ASA, 182 p.

Ormet Corp., 2004a, Ormet Corporation files for chapter 11 protection in order

to complete its financial reorganization: Wheeling, WV, Ormet Corp. press

release, January 30, 3 p.

Ormet Corp., 2004b, Ormet curtails a third potline at Hannibal reduction plant: 

Wheeling, WV, Ormet Corp. press release, May 28, 1 p.

Ormet Corp., 2004c, Ormet curtails operations at one of its two “direct chill”

casting pits at the Hannibal reduction cast house: Wheeling, WV, Ormet

Corp. press release, March 1, 1 p.

Ormet Corp., 2004d, Ormet issues statement: Wheeling, WV, Ormet Corp. press

release, November 27, 1 p.

Platts Metals Week, 2004a, CFAC workers accept new labor deal: Platts Metals

Week, v. 75, no. 43, October 25, p. 13.

Platts Metals Week, 2004b, Egyptalum to resume 5th potline upgrade: Platts

Metals Week, v. 75, no. 22, May 31, p. 6.

Platts Metals Week, 2004c, Longview liquidation nearly complete: Platts Metals

Week, v. 75, no. 26, June 28, p. 13.

Platts Metals Week, 2004d, Triple M billet remelt plant to ease tight market: 

Platts Metals Week, v. 75, no. 38, September 20, p. 1, 10-11.

Platts Metals Week, 2004e, USW ratifies Alcan’s Sebree labor contract: Platts

Metals Week, v. 75, no. 45, November 8, p. 11.

RUSAL, 2004a, Hydro and RUSAL complete first stage of Sayanogorsk

casthouse upgrade: Moscow, Russia, and Oslo, Norway, RUSAL press

release, March 31, 1 p.

RUSAL, 2004b, RUSAL adds a new casting complex to the Krasnoyarsk

aluminium smelter: Moscow, Russia, RUSAL press release, March 29, 1 p.

RUSAL, 2004c, RUSAL starts feasibility study for new 600,000-tonne smelter

in Irkutsk region: Moscow, Russia, RUSAL press release, June 1, 1 p.

Schaffer, Paul, 2004, Trumpeting shift in ownership, Lancaster renames itself

Beck: American Metal Market, v. 112, no. 32, August 9, p. 11.

SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., 2004, SNC-Lavalin awarded three contracts for work

on aluminum smelter in Dubai: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, SNC-Lavalin

Group Inc. press release, August 25, 1 p.
5. u.s. geologicAl survey minerals yearbook—2004

Internet Reference Cited

Read, Paul, 2004 (November 10), Salvaging an idled smelter, Journal of

Business, accessed August 23, 2005, at URL http://www.spokanejournal.

com/spokane_id=article&sub=2168.

GENERAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

U.S. Geological Survey Publications

Aluminum. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries, annual.

Aluminum. Mineral Industry Surveys, monthly.

Aluminum and Bauxite. Ch. in United States Mineral

Resources, Professional Paper 820, 1973.

Bauxite and Alumina. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries,

annual.

Primary Aluminum Plants Worldwide, 1998.

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

quarterly.

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

Other

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

Mines Bulletin 675, 1985.

Aluminum Association Inc. Aluminum Statistical Review,

annual.

TABLE 1

SALIENT ALUMINUM STATISTICS1

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

United States:

Primary production

Quantity thousand metric tons 3,668 2,637 2,707 2,703 2,516

Value millions $6,030 $4,000 $3,870 $4,060 $4,660

Price, average, U.S. market, spot cents per pound 74.6 68.8 64.9 68.1 84.0

Inventories (December 31):

Aluminum industry

2 thousand metric tons 1,550 1,300 1,320 1,400 1,470

LME stocks in U.S. warehouses3 do. (4) 28 45 207 116

Secondary y:

5 recover do. 3,450 2,970 2,930 2,820 3,030

New scrap do. 2,080 1,760 1,750 1,750 1,870

Old scrap do. 1,370 1,210 1,170 1,070 1,160

Exports, crude and semicrude do. 1,760 1,590 1,590 1,540 1,820

Imports for consumption, crude and semicrude do. 3,910 3,740 4,060 4,130 4,720

Su ly t

6 pp , apparen do. 9,610 7,990 8,070 7,880 8,460

Consump t

7 tion, apparen do. 7,530 6,230 6,320 6,130 6,590

World, production do. 24,300 24,300 26,100 r 27,900 r 29,800 e

e

Estimated. rRevised. 1

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

2

Data from the Aluminum Association Inc.; includes ingot, semifabricated material, and scrap. Beginning in 2003, data series revised 

to include inventory levels for both United States and Canadian producers.

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

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

and industry stock changes.

7

Apparent supply less recovery from purchased new scrap.
Aluminum—2004	 5.

TABLE 2

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

Yearend capacity

(thousand metric tons)

Company 2003 2004 2004 ownership 

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

Alcoa Inc.:

Alcoa, TN 210 215 Alcoa Inc., 100%.

Badin, NC 120 120 Do.

Evansville, IN (Warrick) 309 309 Do.

Ferndale, WA (Intalco) 278 278 Alcoa Inc., 61%; Mitsui & Co. Ltd., 39%.

Frederick, MD (Eastalco) 195 195 Do.

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

Massena, NY 130 130 Do.

Mount Holly, SC 224 224 Alcoa Inc., 50.3%; Century Aluminum Co., 49.7%.

Rockdale, TX 264 267 Alcoa Inc., 100%.

Wenatchee, WA 227 184 Do.

Total 2,080 2,050

Century Aluminum Co.:

Hawesville, KY 244 244 Century Aluminum Co., 100%.

Ravenswood, WV 170 170 Do.

Total 414 414

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

Goldendale Aluminum Co., Goldendale, WA 160 160 Private interest, 60%; employees, 40%.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., Mead (Spokane), WA 200 -- MAXXAM Inc., 100%.

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

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

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

Ormet Primary Aluminum Corp., Hannibal, OH 265 265 Ormet Corp., 100%.

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

Grand total 4,140 3,700

 -- Zero.

1

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

TABLE 3

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

(Metric tons)

Calculated recovery

Class Consumption Aluminum Metallic

2003:

Secondary smelters 1,520,000 1,030,000 1,110,000

Integrated aluminum companies 852,000 691,000 736,000

Independent mill fabricators 746,000 651,000 696,000

Foundries 93,600 78,100 83,400

Other consumers 8,170 r 8,100 r 8,100 r

Total 3,220,000 r 2,460,000 r 2,630,000

Estimated full industry coverage 3,460,000 2,640,000 2,820,000

2004:

Secondary smelters 1,630,000 1,130,000 1,210,000

Integrated aluminum companies 754,000 628,000 668,000

Independent mill fabricators 904,000 790,000 844,000

Foundries 91,600 76,200 81,400

Other consumers 8,210 7,340 7,360

Total 3,390,000 2,630,000 2,810,000

Estimated full industry coverage 3,650,000 2,830,000 3,030,000 r

Revised.

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.
5.10 u.s. geologicAl survey minerals yearbook—2004

TABLE 4

U.S. STOCKS, RECEIPTS, AND CONSUMPTION OF PURCHASED NEW AND OLD ALUMINUM SCRAP AND SWEATED PIG IN 20041, 2

(Metric tons)

Stocks, Net Stocks,

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

Secondary smelters:

New scrap:

Solids 12,200 278,000 269,000 20,800

Borings and turnings 4,300 207,000 206,000 4,700

Dross and skimmings 4,640 451,000 451,000 4,470

Other

4 751 227,000 226,000 1,650

Total 21,900 1,160,000 1,150,000 31,600

Old scrap:

Castings, sheet, clippings 7,630 276,000 275,000 8,360

Aluminum-copper radiators 1,400 15,900 15,800 1,510

Aluminum cans5 1,070 68,600 68,700 1,020

Other

6 3,230 109,000 110,000 2,160

Total 13,300 469,000 470,000 13,000

Sweated pig 190 10,400 10,200 448

Total secondary smelters 35,400 1,640,000 1,630,000 45,100

Integrated aluminum companies, foundries, independent mill fabricators, other consumers:

New scrap:

Solids 8,470 r 695,000 692,000 11,600

Borings and turnings 465 16,600 16,600 465

Dross and skimmings 220 r 7,770 7,760 232

Other

4 5,950 r 262,000 263,000 4,790

Total 15,100 r 981,000 979,000 17,100

Old scrap:

Castings, sheet, clippings 3,240 108,000 107,000 4,130

Aluminum-copper radiators 188 r 5,830 5,550 465

Aluminum cans5 13,100 656,000 665,000 4,450

Other

6 22 -- -- 22

Total 16,500 r 770,000 778,000 9,060

Sweated pig 1 576 562 15

Total integrated aluminum companies, etc. 31,700 r 1,750,000 1,760,000 26,200

All scrap consumed:

New scrap:

Solids 20,600 r 973,000 961,000 32,400

Borings and turnings 4,770 223,000 223,000 5,160

Dross and skimmings 4,860 r 458,000 458,000 4,700

Other

4 6,700 r 489,000 489,000 6,440

Total 37,000 r 2,140,000 2,130,000 48,700

Old scrap:

Castings, sheet, clippings 10,900 384,000 383,000 12,500

Aluminum-copper radiators 1,590 r 21,800 21,400 1,970

Aluminum cans 14,200 725,000 734,000 5,470

Other

6 3,250 109,000 110,000 2,180

Total 29,900 1,240,000 1,250,000 22,100

Sweated pig 191 11,000 10,700 462

Total of all scrap consumed 67,000 r 3,390,000 3,390,000 71,300 r

Revised. -- Zero.

1

Includes imported scrap. According to reporting companies, 8.66% of total receipts of aluminum-base scrap, or 297,000 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 (including litter) and fragmentized scrap (auto shredder).
Aluminum—2004	 5.11

TABLE 5

PRODUCTION AND SHIPMENTS OF SECONDARY ALUMINUM ALLOYS BY INDEPENDENT SMELTERS

IN THE UNITED STATES1

(Metric tons)

2003 2004

Net Net

Production shipments2 Production shipments2

Diecast alloys:

13% Si, 360, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 21,100 21,200 18,400 18,700

380 and variations 317,000 318,000 270,000 270,000

Sand and permanent mold:

95/5 Al-Si, 356, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 49,200 48,700 49,200 49,700

No. 319 and variations 97,000 96,800 123,000 124,000

F-132 alloy and variations 25,800 26,600 26,000 26,400

Al-Mg alloys 2,360 2,310 1,490 1,300

Al-Zn alloys 1,760 1,620 2,020 2,110

Al-Si alloys (0.6% to 2.0% Cu) 37 56 551 551

Al-Cu alloys (1.5% Si, maximum) 4,570 4,620 3,910 3,910

Al-Si-Cu-Ni alloys 63 65 -- 1

Other 390 437 236 272

Wrought alloys, extrusion billets 236,000 235,000 290,000 288,000

Miscellaneous:

Steel deoxidation W W W W

Pure (97.0% Al) W W W W

Aluminum-base hardeners 3,380 3,330 -- --

Other

3 72,300 r 73,400 r 78,300 77,200

Total 831,000 r 832,000 r 863,000 862,000

Less consumption of materials other than scrap:

Primary aluminum 121,000 XX 122,000 XX

Primary silicon 39,600 XX 36,500 XX

Other 8,030 XX 6,800 XX

Net metallic recovery from aluminum scrap and sweated

pig consumed in production of secondary aluminum ingot

4 663,000 r XX 697,000 XX r

Revised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Miscellaneous, other."

XX Not applicable. -- Zero.

1

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

2

Includes inventory adjustment.

3

Includes other diecast alloys.

4

No allowance made for meltloss of primary aluminum and alloying ingredients.
5.12 u.s. geologicAl survey minerals yearbook—2004

TABLE 6

DISTRIBUTION OF END-USE SHIPMENTS OF ALUMINUM PRODUCTS

IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, BY INDUSTRY1

2003r 2004p

Quantity Quantity

(thousand Percentage (thousand Percentage

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

Containers and packaging 2,240 21.0 2,310 20.3

Building and construction 1,560 14.6 1,680 14.8

Transportation 3,540 33.2 3,860 33.9

Electrical 653 6.1 723 6.4

Consumer durables 689 6.5 730 6.4

Machinery and equipment 659 6.2 730 6.4

Other markets 415 3.9 416 3.7

Total to domestic users 9,760 91.5 10,400 91.8

Exportse 905 8.5 929 8.2

Grand total 10,700 100.0 11,400 100.0 e

Estimated. pPreliminary. rRevised. 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 PRODUCERS1, 2, 3

(Thousand metric tons)

2002r 2003r 2004p

Wrought products:

Sheet, plate, foil 4,450 4,400 4,780

Pipe, tube, extruded shapes 1,550 1,520 1,660

Rod, bar, wire, cable 559 532 585

Forgings (including impacts) 94 104 116

Powder, flake, paste 57 56 61

Total 6,710 6,610 7,200

Castings:

Sand 279 287 222

Permanent and semipermanent mold 693 724 766

Die 1,280 1,210 1,290

Other 206 190 162

Total 2,450 2,410 2,440

Grand total 9,160 9,030 9,630 p

Preliminary. rRevised. 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.

3

Wrought products data series includes net shipments in both the United States and Canada.

Source: The Aluminum Association Inc. 
Aluminum—2004	 5.13

TABLE 8

U.S. EXPORTS OF ALUMINUM, BY COUNTRY1

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)

2003:

Azerbaijan -- -- 4 $29 -- -- 4 $29

Brazil 88 $272 16,400 54,100 (3) $3 16,500 54,400

Canada 120,000 197,000 476,000 1,170,000 141,000 165,000 737,000 1,530,000

China 183 680 24,700 68,100 244,000 234,000 269,000 303,000

France 107 302 4,600 33,900 5 102 4,720 34,300

Germany 949 7,620 5,080 43,800 372 985 6,400 52,400

Hong Kong 110 552 4,960 16,800 22,500 29,800 27,600 47,200

Italy 9 67 2,290 13,900 3 7 2,310 14,000

Japan 3,790 10,500 6,950 64,200 27,100 33,400 37,800 108,000

Kazakhstan -- -- 237 553 -- -- 237 553

Korea, Republic of 317 1,300 16,100 61,700 45,000 54,000 61,400 117,000

Mexico 85,800 122,000 116,000 388,000 51,700 66,000 254,000 576,000

Netherlands 291 1,190 672 4,690 55 597 1,020 6,480

Philippines 2 3 572 2,740 -- -- 573 2,740

Russia 64 146 114 656 -- -- 178 802

Saudi Arabia 2 8 11,500 25,300 -- -- 11,500 25,300

Singapore 163 1,100 1,440 13,900 85 152 1,690 15,100

South Africa 4 16 169 1,430 -- -- 174 1,450

Taiwan 190 505 10,300 28,400 27,800 31,200 38,300 60,200

Thailand 41 149 5,730 19,200 1,900 1,690 7,670 21,000

Ukraine (3) 10 31 103 -- -- 31 113

United Kingdom 479 2,490 9,920 75,400 464 721 10,900 78,700

Venezuela 7 30 2,340 6,280 42 51 2,390 6,360

Other 1,460 5,200 29,500 147,000 14,700 14,700 45,600 167,000

Total 214,000 351,000 746,000 2,240,000 577,000 633,000 1,540,000 3,220,000

2004:

Azerbaijan -- -- 3 20 -- -- 3 20

Brazil 1,120 2,470 11,600 50,800 78 126 12,800 53,300

Canada 132,000 250,000 523,000 1,470,000 142,000 186,000 797,000 1,910,000

China 454 1,220 36,200 100,000 314,000 321,000 350,000 423,000

France 124 586 6,220 47,900 176 322 6,520 48,800

Germany 439 1,460 4,640 34,900 245 407 5,320 36,800

Hong Kong 95 516 9,180 32,200 10,800 16,000 20,000 48,700

Italy 228 502 2,060 14,000 42 47 2,330 14,600

Japan 5,170 14,900 7,400 71,900 23,300 32,900 35,900 120,000

Kazakhstan -- -- 55 331 -- -- 55 331

Korea, Republic of 809 3,290 16,500 77,500 54,300 70,800 71,600 152,000

Mexico 150,000 267,000 162,000 490,000 38,100 56,000 350,000 812,000

Netherlands 365 1,370 744 4,830 222 588 1,330 6,790

Philippines -- -- 142 1,150 -- -- 142 1,150

Russia 5 21 27 381 -- -- 32 402

Saudi Arabia 29 215 17,400 42,200 (3) 3 17,400 42,500

Singapore 215 1,290 1,680 16,200 362 234 2,260 17,700

South Africa 1 12 223 2,010 -- -- 224 2,030

Taiwan 641 1,600 5,900 25,300 39,200 49,200 45,700 76,100

Tajikistan -- -- 84 661 -- -- 84 661

Thailand 172 678 5,090 20,600 4,920 5,720 10,200 27,000

Ukraine -- -- (3) 14 -- -- (3) 14

United Kingdom 833 3,450 11,700 86,500 165 294 12,700 90,200

Venezuela 20 78 1,650 6,560 3 30 1,670 6,670

Other 5,530 14,600 34,600 196,000 32,200 31,200 72,300 244,000

Total 298,000 565,000 857,000 2,790,000 660,000 773,000 1,820,000 4,130,000

See footnotes at end of table.
5.14 u.s. geologicAl survey minerals yearbook—2004

TABLE 8—Continued

U.S. EXPORTS OF ALUMINUM, BY COUNTRY1

 -- Zero.

1

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

2

Includes castings, forgings, and unclassified semifabricated forms.

3

Less than 1⁄2 unit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

TABLE 9

U.S. EXPORTS OF ALUMINUM, BY CLASS1

2003 2004

Quantity Value Quantity Value

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

Crude and semicrude:

Metals and alloys, crude 214,000 $351,000 298,000 $565,000

Scrap 577,000 633,000 660,000 773,000

Plates, sheets, bars, strip, etc. 690,000 1,900,000 795,000 2,380,000

Castings and forgings 20,000 142,000 21,900 175,000

Semifabricated forms, n.e.c. 36,800 198,000 40,100 237,000

Total 1,540,000 3,220,000 1,820,000 4,130,000

Manufactures:

Foil and leaf 72,900 235,000 85,000 287,000

Powders and flakes 12,000 50,400 12,300 53,500

Wire and cable 30,400 80,000 32,200 96,500

Total 115,000 365,000 129,000 437,000

Grand total 1,650,000 3,590,000 1,950,000 4,570,000 1

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

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

TABLE 10

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF ALUMINUM, BY CLASS1

2003 2004

Quantity Value Quantity Value

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

Crude and semicrude:

Metals and alloys, crude 2,870,000 $4,270,000 3,250,000 $5,880,000

Plates, sheets, strip, etc., n.e.c.2 653,000 1,510,000 724,000 1,950,000

Pipes, tubes, etc. 26,900 134,000 34,900 171,000

Rods and bars 142,000 435,000 179,000 581,000

Scrap 440,000 496,000 535,000 655,000

Total 4,130,000 6,840,000 4,720,000 9,240,000

Manufactures:

Foil and leaf

3 110,000 354,000 107,000 378,000

Powders and flakes 5,570 18,500 5,360 18,700

Wire 156,000 269,000 175,000 359,000

Total 271,000 642,000 288,000 756,000

Grand total 4,400,000 7,480,000 5,010,000 10,000,000 1

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

2

Includes circles, disks, plates, and sheets.

3

Excludes etched capacitor foil.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Aluminum—2004	 5.15

TABLE 11

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF ALUMINUM, BY COUNTRY1

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)

2003:

Argentina 70,300 $110,000 1,000 $2,450 495 $592 71,800 $113,000

Australia 78,100 70,300 116 671 9 10 78,200 71,000

Azerbaijan -- -- 1 3 -- -- 1 3

Bahrain 3,010 4,630 15,500 31,200 -- -- 18,500 35,800

Belgium 7 42 10,300 25,800 (3) 2 10,300 25,800

Brazil 72,100 108,000 16,500 38,500 3,880 6,290 92,500 153,000

Canada 1,730,000 2,640,000 439,000 1,010,000 306,000 352,000 2,480,000 4,000,000

China 559 1,040 25,200 71,500 328 536 26,100 73,100

France 714 5,810 6,020 25,000 497 492 7,230 31,300

Germany 10,400 22,100 67,300 231,000 721 701 78,500 254,000

Italy (3) 2 2,260 9,660 -- -- 2,260 9,670

Japan 294 656 8,240 39,800 1,070 1,550 9,600 42,000

Korea, Republic of 12 55 6,380 17,000 -- -- 6,390 17,100

Mexico 3,680 7,160 17,200 62,400 71,200 75,000 92,100 145,000

Netherlands 670 1,830 2,600 11,200 289 401 3,560 13,400

Norway 502 1,110 160 598 -- -- 662 1,710

Panama -- -- 836 2,350 2,300 2,520 3,130 4,870

Russia 627,000 910,000 45,200 90,800 5,160 6,880 677,000 1,010,000

Slovenia -- -- 4,740 12,300 -- -- 4,740 12,300

South Africa 9,380 13,500 36,700 81,900 -- -- 46,100 95,400

Spain 128 410 764 2,900 21 28 913 3,340

United Arab Emirates 51,400 81,200 3 30 719 808 52,100 82,100

United Kingdom 4,040 6,240 3,050 21,900 3,820 3,310 10,900 31,500

Venezuela 182,000 253,000 23,800 41,900 7,970 8,940 214,000 304,000

Other 20,600 32,600 90,000 244,000 36,000 35,800 147,000 312,000

Total 2,870,000 4,270,000 823,000 2,080,000 440,000 496,000 4,130,000 6,840,000

2004:

Argentina 75,400 115,000 583 2,220 204 259 76,200 118,000

Australia 65,100 123,000 87 1,340 35 39 65,200 124,000

Bahrain 2,670 4,910 13,100 29,600 -- -- 15,800 34,500

Belgium 688 1,220 11,600 32,100 -- -- 12,300 33,300

Brazil 226,000 399,000 31,700 77,000 4,770 8,950 262,000 485,000

Canada 1,660,000 3,070,000 489,000 1,340,000 353,000 422,000 2,500,000 4,830,000

China 13,900 25,000 52,800 159,000 230 352 67,000 184,000

France 2,610 10,500 7,770 32,300 271 388 10,600 43,100

Germany 4,380 13,400 81,500 291,000 933 932 86,800 306,000

Italy 450 776 2,030 11,700 -- -- 2,480 12,500

Japan 1,750 4,220 12,100 57,600 569 1,990 14,500 63,900

Korea, Republic of 68 308 3,380 13,400 29 37 3,480 13,800

Mexico 1,260 2,510 21,400 73,000 84,700 103,000 107,000 179,000

Netherlands 1,110 2,990 2,840 15,900 229 657 4,180 19,600

Norway 4,110 9,000 121 510 5 9 4,240 9,520

Panama -- -- 404 1,350 3,220 4,090 3,620 5,440

Russia 904,000 1,590,000 37,600 90,500 9,860 15,100 952,000 1,690,000

Slovenia -- -- 4,930 15,400 -- -- 4,930 15,400

South Africa 40,000 69,300 36,100 87,500 -- -- 76,100 157,000

Spain 114 362 1,730 6,820 -- -- 1,850 7,180

Ukraine -- -- -- -- 57 155 57 155

United Arab Emirates 54,300 102,000 79 254 487 652 54,800 103,000

United Kingdom 6,340 12,800 2,870 19,400 4,360 5,590 13,600 37,800

Venezuela 138,000 239,000 19,900 37,800 20,300 27,900 178,000 304,000

Other 46,200 86,800 104,000 315,000 52,300 62,600 203,000 465,000

Total 3,250,000 5,880,000 938,000 2,710,000 535,000 655,000 4,720,000 9,240,000

See footnotes at end of table.
5.16 u.s. geologicAl survey minerals yearbook—2004

TABLE 11—Continued

U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF ALUMINUM, BY COUNTRY1

 -- Zero.

1

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

2

Includes circles, disks, pipes, rods, tubes, etc.

3

Less than 1⁄2 unit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

TABLE 12

ALUMINUM, PRIMARY: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY1, 2

(Thousand metric tons)

Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Argentina 262 245 269 272 270 e

Australia 1,769 1,797 1,836 1,857 1,900 e

Azerbaijan -- -- -- 19 30 e

Bahrain 509 523 519 532 r 530 e

Bosnia and Herzegovina

e, 3 95 96 103 r 111 r 115

Brazil 1,277 1,140 1,318 1,381 1,457

Cameroon 86 81 r 67 r 77 r 77 e

Canada 2,373 2,583 2,709 2,792 2,592

China

e 2,800 3,250 4,300 5,450 6,670

Croatia

3 15 16 -- -- -- e

Egypt 189 r 191 r 195 r 195 r 215

France 441 462 463 443 r 450 e

Germany 644 652 653 661 r 675

Ghana 137 144 117 13 -- e

Greece 168 166 165 165 165 e

Hungary

e 34 4 34 35 35 35

Iceland

5 224 243 264 266 r 271

India

6 644 624 671 799 r 862

Indonesia

e, 6 160 180 160 200 r 230

Iran 140 e 160 169 170 170 e

Italy 189 187 190 191 r 190 e

Japan7 7 7 6 7 6

Mexico6 61 52 39 -- -- e

Mozambique 54 266 273 408 547

Netherlands 302 294 284 278 r 326

New Zealand 328 322 335 e 340 e 350

Norway 1,026 1,068 1,096 1,192 r 1,322

Poland

8 47 45 49 r 45 r 51 e

Romania

9 179 182 187 190 190 e

Russia 3,245 3,300 3,347 3,478 3,593

Serbia and Montenegro

3 88 100 112 112 r 115 e

Slovakia

6 137 r 134 r 147 r 165 r 160 e

Slovenia

3 84 77 88 110 r 110 e

South Africa 673 662 707 738 863

Spain 366 376 380 389 r 398

Sweden 101 102 101 101 101

Switzerland 36 36 40 44 r 45

Tajikistan 269 289 308 319 358

Turkey

e 61 62 4 63 63 60

See footnotes at end of table.
Aluminum—2004	 5.17

TABLE 12—Continued

ALUMINUM, PRIMARY: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY1, 2

(Thousand metric tons)

Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Ukraine9 104 106 112 114 113

United Arab Emirates, Dubai

e 470 500 536 560 r, 4 683 4

United Kingdom 305 341 344 343 r 360

United States 3,668 2,637 2,707 2,703 2,516

Venezuela 571 571 605 601 624

Total 24,300 24,300 26,100 r 27,900 r 29,800 e

Estimated. rRevised. -- Zero. 1

World totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

2

Primary aluminum is defined as "The weight of liquid 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 5, 2005.

3

Primary ingot plus secondary ingot.

4

Reported figure.

5

Ingot and rolling billet production.

6

Primary ingot.

7

Excludes high purity aluminum containing 99.995% or more as follows, in metric tons: 2000—40,956; 2001—26,586; 2002—40,443; 2003—

44,000 (revised); and 2004—45,000 (estimated).

8

Primary unalloyed ingot plus secondary unalloyed ingot.

9

Primary unalloyed metal plus primary alloyed metal, thus including weight of alloying material.