ALUMINUM—2003 5.1

ALUMINUM

By Patricia A. Plunkert

Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Jamal I. Dimashk, statistical assistant, and the world production table 

was prepared by Linder Roberts, international data coordinator.

In 2003, 7 domestic companies operated 15 primary aluminum 

reduction plants in 12 States and produced more than 2.7 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 $4.1 billion. Three 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 2003. At yearend, about 

1.5 million metric tons per year (Mt/yr) of domestic primary 

aluminum smelting capacity, including idled potlines at operating 

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

Aluminum recovered from purchased scrap decreased slightly 

to 2.82 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 more than 55% of the reported old scrap 

consumption in 2003. According to the Aluminum Association 

Inc. (2004a), the recycling rate for aluminum UBCs was 50%.

The transportation and the container and packaging industries 

remained the leading markets for aluminum products in Canada 

and the United States in 2003. The transportation industry 

accounted for 36% of domestic metal consumption; containers 

and packaging, 23%; building and construction, 16%; consumer 

durables, 8%; electrical, 7%; and other uses, 10%.

U.S. imports for consumption increased slightly in 2003 

compared with those of 2002. Canada remained the leading 

shipper of aluminum materials to the United States, followed by 

Russia. Total exports from the United States in 2003, however, 

were slightly lower than those of 2002.

The price of primary ingot on the domestic and the 

international markets fluctuated during the year. The 2003 

annual average domestic price, however, increased by more than 

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

At the end of 2003, total world inventories of aluminum, as 

reported by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) (2004), 

increased slightly compared with those of 2002. Inventories of 

aluminum metal and alloys held by the London Metal Exchange 

Ltd. (LME) also increased. Primary aluminum was produced in 41 

countries in 2003. China, Russia, Canada, and the United States, in 

decreasing order of metal produced, accounted for more than onehalf of total world production. World primary metal production 

increased by more than 6% compared with that of 2002.

Production

Primary.—Domestic primary aluminum production, which 

totaled a reported 2,703,328 metric tons (t), decreased slightly 

compared with that of 2002. Production data were obtained 

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

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

Increases in energy and alumina costs and the relative 

weakness in aluminum prices were among the reasons cited 

by several aluminum companies for their decisions to curtail 

aluminum production.

In March, Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. closed two of the 

three operating potlines at its 168,000-metric-ton-per-year 

(t/yr) Columbia Falls, MT, smelter. Each of the five potlines 

at Columbia Falls had a capacity of about 33,500 t/yr. The 

Montana smelter was one of the few operating smelters in the 

Pacific Northwest (Brooks, 2003a).

At the end of March, Goldendale Aluminum Co. (a subsidiary 

of Golden Northwest Aluminum Co.) closed the remaining 

12,000 t/yr of operating capacity at its 160,000-t/yr Goldendale, 

WA, primary aluminum smelter. At the beginning of the year, 

the smelter was operating at the rate of 50,000 t/yr. At the 

beginning of March, 38,000 t/yr of capacity was idled before the 

decision to close all capacity was made at the end of the month 

(Brooks, 2003b). At the end of the year, Golden Northwest 

Aluminum and three subsidiaries (Goldendale Aluminum 

Co., Goldendale Holding Co., and Northwest Aluminum 

Technologies) filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 

to restructure their debt. The filing was limited to Golden 

Northwest’s aluminum operations and did not include its power 

development companies, Northwest Energy Development and 

its subsidiaries (Platts Metals Week, 2003b).

On April 23, Alcoa Inc. announced the temporary closure 

of 60,000 t/yr of production capacity at its two Massena, NY, 

smelters. The reduction affected approximately 24% of the 

smelters’ combined capacity of 255,000 t/yr (Alcoa Inc., 2003n).

On November 1, Alcoa reduced operating capacity at its 

278,000-t/yr Ferndale, WA, smelter to 90,000 t/yr. Prior to 

this reduction, the smelter had been operating two of its three 

potlines at a rate of 180,000 t/yr (Alcoa Inc., 2003m).

Citing the imbalance between alumina and aluminum prices, 

Ormet Corp. announced the temporary closure of two of the six 

potlines (88,000 t/yr) at its 265,000-t/yr Hannibal, OH, smelter 

at yearend. The company hoped to minimize the impact of low 

aluminum prices by curtailing some aluminum production and 

selling the alumina that would have been consumed making the 

primary metal. Alumina shortages worldwide caused alumina 

prices to soar in 2003 (Ormet Corp., 2003a).

In March, Longview Aluminum L.L.C. filed for Chapter 11 

bankruptcy protection in Federal Court in Delaware. In July, the 

court appointed a Chapter 11 trustee to manage the company’s 

assets. Longview operated a 240,000-t/yr smelter in Longview, 

WA (Brooks, 2003c).

In January, Kaiser announced the indefinite curtailment of its 

Mead, WA, aluminum smelter. The 200,000-t/yr smelter has 

been closed since January 2001 (Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical 

Corp., 2003a).
5.2 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2003

Alcoa formalized a plan and process for site restoration 

at its Troutdale, OR, smelter that was permanently closed in 

July 2002. The plan included the complete dismantling and 

demolition of plant structures, removal of process materials and 

wastes from discrete locations, restoration of Company Lake, 

and preparation of the site for redevelopment within 3 to 4 years 

of the start of the project (Alcoa Inc., 2003b).

Century Aluminum Co. purchased Glencore International 

AG’s 20% interest in the Hawesville, KY, primary aluminum 

smelter to become the sole owner of the 244,000-t/yr facility 

(Century Aluminum Co., 2003b). Century also signed a new 

supply contract with Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp. that 

covered all of the alumina requirements for the smelter from 

January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2008. The price of the 

alumina was to be indexed to the price of primary metal on the 

LME. The existing supply contract with Kaiser was to expire at 

the end of 2005 (Century Aluminum Co., 2003a).

Santee Cooper, South Carolina’s state-owned electricity 

company, signed a 10-year contract to continue to supply 

electric power to the Mount Holly, SC, primary aluminum 

smelter until 2015. The jointly owned smelter (Alcoa, 50.33%; 

Century Aluminum, 49.67%) had the capacity to produce 

222,000-t/yr of aluminum (Century Aluminum Co., 2003c).

Noranda Inc. signed a new power supply contract with 

Brascan Energy Marketing Inc. to provide Noranda’s 250,000-t/

yr, New Madrid, MO, smelter up to 490 megawatt hours (MWh) 

of electricity per year for a 2-year period commencing June 1. 

Noranda’s contract with Associated Electric Cooperative expired 

on May 31 (Noranda Inc., 2004, p. 54).

Alcoa approved an $83 million investment to develop the 

Three Oaks Mine, in central Texas, that reportedly will produce 

lignite coal for Alcoa’s nearby Rockdale, TX, powerplant for 

the next 35 years. Electricity from the plant powered Alcoa’s 

264,000-t/yr Rockdale aluminum smelter (Alcoa Inc., 2003i).

Walter Industries Inc. announced the sale of its subsidiary (JW 

Aluminum Co.) to Wellspring Capital Management LLC. JW 

Aluminum operated a 100,000-t/yr rolling mill in Mount Holly 

that produced aluminum finstock and building products sheet 

(Platts Metals Week, 2003d).

Alcoa relocated two welded tube production lines and supporting 

equipment to its Texarkana, TX, plant. The equipment was 

purchased from the former Scottsboro Aluminum LLC rolling mill 

in Alabama. Welded tube lines transform coiled aluminum sheet 

into a tube or other cylindrical shape, longitudinally welding the 

product that can be found in a variety of furniture, medical-aid, and 

recreational applications (Alcoa Inc., 2003k).

Commonwealth Industries Inc., Louisville, KY, and 

Wise Alloys LLC, Muscle Shoals, AL, announced a 5-year 

strategic alliance under which Commonwealth will market 

Commonwealth Aluminum-branded, wide-width coil products 

manufactured by Wise Alloys. Wise manufactured sheet 72 to 

108 inches wide (Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2003a).

Commonwealth signed new labor agreements with workers 

at three of its facilities. On April 10, members of the United 

Steelworkers of America ratified a new 5-year agreement that 

covered employees of Commonwealth’s Lewisport, KY, rolling 

mill. The agreement replaced the old contract that expired on July 

31 (Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2003c). On December 22, 

employees represented by the Glass, Molders, Pottery Workers 

International Union ratified a 3-year agreement that covered 

workers at the Uhrichsville, OH, rolling mill and the Bedford, 

OH, coil coating facility. The new agreement extends through 

December 31, 2006 (Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2003b).

Secondary.—Metal recovered from new and old scrap 

decreased slightly to 2.82 Mt in 2003 (table 3), according to 

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

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

survey requests were sent, 35 responded; they represented 76% 

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, 49.9 billion aluminum UBCs 

were recycled in the United States in 2003, for a beverage can 

recycling rate of 50%. For 22 of the past 23 years, the rate has 

equaled or exceeded 50% (Aluminum Association Inc., 2004a).

Hydro Aluminium announced an $11 million upgrade at 

its remelt facility in Ellenville, NY. The upgrade included 

improvements in the scrap handling facility and the casting 

unit. Upon completion in 2004, the facility would have a remelt 

capacity of more than 60,000 t/yr (Hydro Aluminium, 2003a).

IMCO Recycling Inc. closed its Rockwood, TN, smelter and 

transferred the plant’s remaining business to IMCO’s Loudon, 

TN, and Morgantown, KY, facilities (Platts Metals Week, 2003c).

IMCO reached a 5-year tolling agreement with Metal 

Conversions Limited, a privately owned metal trading company 

that operated several scrap yards. IMCO planned to recycle 

Metal Conversions’ aluminum materials and produce ingot, 

molten metal, and deoxidation products for the steel industry. 

As part of the agreement, IMCO purchased several casting lines 

located at Metals Conversions’ Painesville, OH, plant resulting 

in an increase of more than 180,000 t (400 million pounds) 

of processing volume during the following 5 years (IMCO 

Recycling Inc., 2003).

Consumption

The end-use shipment data reported by the Aluminum 

Association includes aluminum product shipments in both 

the United States and Canada. In 2003, the combined United 

States and Canadian shipments of aluminum products to the 

transportation industry totaled 3.52 Mt. Shipments to the 

container and packaging industry, which was the second largest 

end-use market, was 2.24 Mt. Total shipments, excluding 

exports, of aluminum products in 2003 increased marginally 

compared with those of 2002 (table 6).

Alcoa was selected to supply Canadian aircraft manufacturer 

Bombardier Aerospace with aluminum flat-rolled products for its 

regional and business jets. As part of a multiyear agreement, Alcoa 

was to supply Bombardier with structural components and wing and 

fuselage skins for all Bombardier aircraft, including its Bombardier 

CRJ series and its Learjet, Challenger, and Global Express families 

of aircraft (Alcoa Inc., 2003j). Alcoa Howmet Castings was selected 

to provide components for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft and 

the European Airbus 380. Howmet was to manufacture a hydraulic 

vessel and cover that will fit into a contoured space in the wing of 

the Airbus 380 (Alcoa Inc., 2003h). Howmet was awarded contracts 
ALUMINUM—2003 5.3

by Honeywell International to develop seven new castings that will 

support Honeywell’s Thermal Power Management System for the 

JSF. In addition, Howmet was awarded sole-source contracts by 

Pratt and Whitney Aircraft for all six of the turbine airfoils in the JSF 

main engine (Alcoa Inc., 2003g).

Universal Alloy Corp. purchased the extrusion press assets of 

Spectrulite Consortium Inc. in St. Louis, MO. The equipment 

would allow Universal to enter a new sector of the aerospace 

aluminum extrusion market. Universal’s existing presses 

produced extrusions for fuselage applications, whereas the 

Spectrulite presses will produce the much larger extrusions for 

wing applications (Haflich, 2003).

Not all of the news from the aerospace industry, however, 

was good. Boeing Co. announced that its new 7E7 twin-engine 

commercial jet, named the Dreamliner, would use nonmetallic 

composite material in the construction of both the wing and 

fuselage rather than aluminum alloys. Aluminum use in the 

Dreamliner was expected to be 20% of the aircraft’s weight 

as compared with 70% for Boeing’s last new airliner, the 777. 

Composites, mainly within the vertical and horizontal tail 

structures, contributed 12% to the weight of the 777 compared 

with an expected 50% in the 7E7. Although the Dreamliner had 

been approved for sale, it could be more than 5 years before the 

7E7 carries its first passenger (Ahmadzadeh, 2003).

Preliminary reports indicated that aluminum and other 

lightweight materials increased their use in the 2004-model 

cars and trucks. Aluminum picked up new production parts 

applications to boost the content of casting, extruding, sheet, 

and forging alloys by an estimated 4.3% to an average of 131 

kilograms (289.5 pounds) per vehicle in automobiles, sport 

utility vehicles, trucks, vans, wagons, and cross-over vehicles 

built by automakers in North America. New powertrain parts 

applications, particularly engine cylinder blocks, heads, covers, 

bedplates, and oil pans, led the list of additional aluminum uses 

in the 2004 models. There were some modest increases for 

aluminum sheet, extrusion, and forging alloys in body, driveline, 

structural, and suspensions system applications (Wrigley, 2003b).

Alcoa was awarded a contract to supply aluminum for the 

hoods of Ford Motor Company’s redesigned F-150 pickup 

trucks (Alcoa Inc., 2003a). Alcan began construction of a new 

manufacturing facility for the production of aluminum structural 

assemblies for the automotive industry. The new plant in 

Saguenay, Quebec, Canada, along with the newly completed 

facility in Novi, MI, was expected to manufacture aluminum 

bumper beams (Alcan Inc., 2003e). Superior Industries 

International Inc. signed a multiyear contract to supply Ford with 

five different wheel styles for the F-150. Superior could need as 

much as 11,800 t/yr (26 million pounds per year) of aluminum 

alloy A356 to produce these wheels. Aluminum wheels were 

expected to be purchased on 45% or more of these vehicles each 

year (Wrigley, 2003c). Toyota Motor Manufacturing North 

America chose Jackson, TN, as the location for a new diecasting 

plant that will produce V-6 and V-8 engine blocks. The plant will 

be operated by Bodine Aluminum Inc., a subsidiary of Toyota. 

The plant was expected to begin production in 2005, expand 

during several years, and eventually turn out 1 million blocks per 

year. This level of production could require about 22,700 t/yr (50 

million pounds per year) of A380 alloy (Wrigley, 2003a).

Ball Corp., and Daiwa Can Co. and Mitsui & Co. Ltd. of 

Japan agreed to sell and distribute Daiwa’s New Bottle Can© 

aluminum beverage container in North America. The reclosable 

can comes in three sizes ranging from 350 to 500 milliliters. 

More than three billion New Bottle Cans© have been sold 

worldwide since 2000 (Metal Bulletin Monthly, 2003).

Rexam PLC announced the planned closure of its aluminum 

can end manufacturing plant in San Leandro, CA, in 2004 to 

bring its beverage can- and end-making capacity into line with 

market demand. The plant manufactured 5.5 billion can ends 

per year (Platts Metals Week, 2003f).

Ormet Corp. announced the sale of its Iuka Lamination 

Division to Packaging Dynamics Corporation as part of its plan 

to concentrate on its core business areas of primary aluminum 

and fabricated mill products. Iuka produced laminated foil 

for the insulation, food packaging, gift wrap, and label stocks 

markets (Ormet Corp., 2003b).

Alcoa sold its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging 

business in South America to Michigan-based Amcor PET 

Packaging for $75 million. The sale was part of Alcoa’s 

previously announced divestiture program to sell certain noncore 

businesses. Alcoa planned to continue to serve customers in 

the packaging and beverage industry throughout Latin America 

through its other packaging businesses (Alcoa Inc., 2003e).

Stocks

Producer inventory data reported by the Aluminum Association 

were revised to include inventories held by both United States and 

Canadian producers. The combined United States and Canadian 

producers inventories of aluminum ingot, mill products, and scrap 

totaled 1.4 Mt at yearend 2003 (Aluminum Association Inc., 

2004b). The LME reported that primary aluminum metal ingot at 

its U.S. warehouses increased dramatically to more than 107,000 

t at yearend 2003 from 650 t at yearend 2002. At yearend, U.S. 

LME warehouses also held more than 99,300 t of North American 

Special Aluminium Alloy Contract (NASAAC) metal ingot, a 

significant increase from the 44,200 t held at the end of 2002. 

These warehouses also held an additional 700 t of aluminum alloy 

ingot, the first time U.S. warehouses have held yearend inventories 

of alloy ingot since 1999 (London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2003).

Prices

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

metal, as reported by Platts Metals Week, fluctuated throughout 

the year. The monthly average price began the year at 66.3 

cents per pound, reached a low for the year of 64.5 cents per 

pound in April, and, by December, had risen to 73.9 cents per 

pound. The average price in 2003 increased to 68.1 cents per 

pound, up from 64.9 cents per pound in 2002.

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 2003 average annual LME cash 

price increased to 64.9 cents per pound from 61.2 cents per pound 

in 2002. The COMEX monthly average spot settlement price 
5.4 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2003

increased from 65.6 cents per pound in January to 73.5 cents per 

pound in December and averaged 67.0 cents per pound for the year.

Purchase prices for aluminum scrap, as quoted by American 

Metal Market, also fluctuated but closed at higher levels than 

those at the beginning of the year. The 2003 yearend price 

ranges for selected types of aluminum scrap were as follows: 

mixed low-copper-content aluminum clips, 57 to 58 cents per 

pound; old sheet and cast aluminum, 54 to 55 cents per pound; 

and clean, dry aluminum turnings, 53 to 54 cents per pound.

Aluminum producers’ buying price range for processed and 

delivered UBCs, as quoted by American Metal Market, also 

closed higher at yearend. The price range began the year at 49 

to 51 cents per pound and closed the year at 53.5 to 55 cents per 

pound. The annual average American Metal Market price for 

aluminum UBCs increased to 50.5 cents per pound in 2003 from 

47.4 cents per pound in 2002.

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 2003 were as follows: alloy A380 (3% zinc content), 

84 cents per pound; alloy B380 (1% zinc content), 85.3 cents per 

pound; alloy A360 (0.6% copper content), 88.2 cents per pound; 

alloy A413 (0.6% copper content), 88.1 cents per pound; and 

alloy 319, 87.6 cents per pound. Platts Metals Week published 

an annual average U.S. price of 70.2 cents per pound for A380 

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

a similar A380 alloy was 63.5 cents per pound and the annual 

average LME NASAAC cash price was 63 cents per pound.

Trade

Total exports of aluminum materials from the United States 

in 2003 were slightly lower than those of 2002 (table 8). An 

increase in exports of crude metal and alloys was overshadowed 

by decreases in exports of semifabricated material and 

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

in 2003 was shipped to Canada and Mexico. Shipments to 

China, 90% of which were in the form of aluminum scrap, 

accounted for an additional 17% of total exports.

Imports for consumption, however, increased slightly 

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

remained the major source country, supplying 60% of the total 

imports in 2003 (table 11), and Russia continued to be the 

second leading supplier.

World Review

World production of primary aluminum metal increased 6% in 

2003 compared with that of 2002 (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 

decreased to 1.63 Mt at yearend 2003 from 1.66 Mt at yearend 

2002. 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 slightly to 2.97 Mt at yearend 2003 from 2.93 

Mt at yearend 2002. Total aluminum is unwrought aluminum plus 

unprocessed scrap, metal in process, and finished semifabricated 

(mill) products (International Aluminium Institute, 2004).

Yearend 2003 inventories of primary aluminum metal held 

by the LME increased to 1.42 Mt from 1.24 Mt at yearend 

2002. Aluminum alloy inventories also increased to 62,600 t 

at yearend 2003 from 34,700 t at yearend 2002; and NASAAC 

ingot inventories increased to 99,300 t from 44,200 t at yearend 

2002 (London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2003).

Industry Mergers.—On July 7, Alcan Inc. announced an 

unsolicited offer to acquire Pechiney securities. In August, Alcan 

received clearance from the French Government to proceed 

with the purchase. In September, the European Commission 

granted acquisition clearance subject to certain commitments and 

conditions. To meet the Commission’s regulatory concerns in 

relation to aluminum flat-rolled products, Alcan undertook to divest 

either a 50% share in the AluNorf rolling mill and its Göttingen 

and Nachterstedt rolling mills or Pechiney’s rolling mills at NeufBrisach, Rugles, and if necessary, the Annecy rolling mill. Alcan’s 

Latchford recycling/casting operations also could be added to either 

the Alunorf or Neuf-Brisach packages. In addition, Alcan agreed 

to undertakings with the European Commission for the licensing 

of alumina refining technology, aluminum smelter cell technology, 

and anode baking furnace designs. Alcan also would eliminate the 

overlap arising from Alcan’s and Pechiney’s activities in aluminum 

aerosol cans and aluminum cartridges. The U.S. Department of 

Justice granted clearance for the acquisition upon the condition that 

Alcan divest itself of Pechiney’s aluminum rolling mill located in 

Ravenswood, WV, to meet the Department’s concerns involving 

the concentration of suppliers in the North American market for 

aluminum brazing sheet. By the beginning of 2004, Alcan had 

completed the purchase of all outstanding Pechiney securities, and 

Pechiney became an Alcan subsidiary (Alcan Inc., 2004, p. 10-16).

Australia.—Non-ferrous Metal Industry Foreign Engineering 

and Construction Company (NFC) of China signed an engineering 

and supply contract with Aldoga Aluminium Smelter Ltd. for the 

construction of a 420,000-t/yr smelter near Gladstone in Queensland. 

Construction was expected to begin in 2004 and the first metal 

poured in 2006. A planned third potline that would increase capacity 

to 630,00 t/yr would require additional environmental approvals since 

existing agreements limited total capacity at the smelter to 560,000 t/

yr. Aldoga and NFC also reportedly signed a cooperation agreement 

to develop a bauxite mine and associated 4-Mt/yr alumina refinery in 

Australia (Clarke, 2003).

Azerbaijan.—Fondel Metal Participation B.V. announced 

plans to build a new, more energy efficient 100,000-t/yr primary 

aluminum smelter near the Gyandzha alumina refinery. The 

first 50,000 t/yr was expected to come online in 2005. Fondel 

was also modernizing the Sumgait smelter and upgrading the 

Gyandzha refinery (Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 2003a).

Bahrain.—Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) began construction of 

a fifth 307,000-t/yr potline at its primary aluminum smelter in 

Knuff. The line would use AP30S technology from Pechiney, 

similar to Alba’s fourth potline, have 336 cells, and extend more 

than 1 kilometer in length. A new 650-megawatt (MW) power 

complex would service the new potline. Upon completion, 

scheduled for February 2005, capacity would increase to more 

than 800,000 t/yr, making it the world’s largest aluminum smelter 

outside Eastern Europe (Henry, 2003).
ALUMINUM—2003 5.5

In September, the Government of Bahrain and Alcoa signed a 

memorandum of understanding (MOU) that paved the way for 

Alcoa to acquire up to 26% equity in Alba and included a longterm alumina supply arrangement for the smelter. The MOU was 

also designed to accelerate plans for an additional 307,000-t/yr 

(sixth) potline that would increase smelter capacity to more than 

1.1 Mt/yr. Final agreements on the equity stake were expected to 

be concluded in mid-2004 and become effective upon completion 

of the fifth potline in early 2005 (Alcoa Inc., 2003l).

Brazil.—Alcoa acquired the Camargo Correa Group’s 40.9% 

interest in Alcoa’s South American operations, comprising 

businesses in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, 

and Venezuela. The largest subsidiary in the Group is Alcoa 

Aluminio S.A. that operated mining, refining, smelting, and 

fabrication facilities at various locations in Brazil. These assets 

included the 300,000-t/yr Pocos de Caldas alumina refinery and 

91,000-t/yr aluminum smelter along with a 35.1% interest in the 

1.33-Mt/yr Alumar refinery and a 53.7% interest in the 370,000-

t/yr Alumar smelter in Sao Luis (Alcoa Inc., 2003d).

Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) completed a $370 

million, 100,000-t/yr expansion at its smelter in Sao Paulo. 

The expansion increased the smelter’s capacity to 340,000 t/yr 

(American Metal Market, 2003c).

Alcoa sold its 37% interest in Latas de Aluminio, S.A. 

(Latasa), an aluminum can business in Sao Paulo, to Rexam, 

a global beverage canmaker. Latasa operated six facilities in 

Brazil, and one each in Argentina and Chile (Alcoa Inc., 2003q).

Brunei.—The Brunei Economic Development Board and 

Alcoa signed an MOU to undertake a feasibility study on 

the establishment of an aluminum smelter and its associated 

infrastructure in Brunei. Alcoa would carry out the study in two 

phases during a period of 24 months beginning in the fourth 

quarter of 2003 (Alcoa Inc., 2003o).

Canada.—Alcan announced an $18 million investment for a 

new facility in Saguenay, Quebec, for the production of aluminum 

structural assemblies for the automotive industry. Initially, the 

facility was expected to produce 600,000 aluminum bumpers 

per year but could eventually expand its product range to include 

side-impact beams, instrument panel supports, and other weightsaving structural subsystems. Production was scheduled to start 

in the fourth quarter of 2004 (Alcan Inc., 2003e).

Alcan completed the acquisition of VAW Flexible Packaging from 

Norsk Hydro. The purchase included 14 flexible packaging plants in 

8 countries that manufactured a wide variety of products for the food, 

dairy, and pharmaceutical industries (Alcan Inc., 2003c).

Alcan developed a new treatment for spent potliners and 

announced plans to build an 80,000-t/yr treatment facility in 

Saguenay, Quebec, in the Lac-Saint-Jean region. It would use 

Alcan’s Low Caustic Leaching & Liming (LCLL) Process. The 

new treatment plant was expected to reduce Alcan’s treatment 

costs and provide the opportunity to treat spent potliners from 

other aluminum producers in the area. Construction was 

scheduled to begin in 2004 (Alcan Inc., 2003b).

Chile.—Noranda Inc. announced the temporary suspension of 

some of the developmental activities related to the 440,000-t/yr 

Alumysa aluminum smelter (Noranda Inc., 2003).

China.—Alcan announced the signing of a definitive jointventure agreement with the Qingtonxia Aluminum Company 

and the Ningxia Electric Power Development and Investment 

Co. Ltd. that gives Alcan 50% participation in an existing 

150,000-t/yr smelter. Alcan also obtained the option to 

acquire up to 80% of a new 250,000-t/yr potline already under 

construction (Alcan Inc., 2003a).

Baotou Aluminum Co. and Pechiney reached an agreement 

for the construction of a new production unit for highpurity aluminum to be used in the manufacture of electronic 

components and capacitors. Initial production capacity of 5,000 

t/yr of 99.99%-pure aluminum was expected to come online by 

the end of 2004 (Pechiney, 2003b).

Hydro Aluminium announced plans to construct a precision 

aluminum tubing plant in Suzhou, north of Shanghai. The plant 

was to produce precision drawn tubing, multiport extrusions, 

and extruded tubular profiles used in automotive heat transfer 

applications. The extrusion press was expected to be installed 

in July 2004 and production scheduled to begin by yearend 2004 

(Hydro Aluminium, 2003b).

France.—Pechiney announced the closure of its 48,000-

t/yr Auzat primary aluminum smelter in Ariege. Obsolete 

technology and poor economics were cited as reasons for the 

closure (Pechiney, 2003a).

Pechiney became the sole owner of the 250,000-t/yr Aluminium 

Dunkerque smelter by agreeing to purchase the remaining 65% of 

the plant from its financial partners (Pechiney, 2003c).

Ghana.—Kaiser announced the temporary closure of its 90%-

owned Volta Aluminium Company Limited (Valco) primary 

aluminum smelter. Valco has five potlines, each with a capacity 

of 40,000 t/yr. During the last few years, Kaiser was forced to 

slowly reduce production levels in response to power allocation 

cuts owing to drought conditions that affected output at the Volta 

River Authority hydroelectric powerplant at Lake Akosombo. 

Valco operated four potlines in 2000, 2001, and early 2002, but 

was forced to close one of these potlines in March and another 

in December 2002. A third was closed in January 2003 (Kaiser 

Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2003c).

In December, Kaiser signed an MOU to sell its interest in 

Valco to the Republic of Ghana. The transaction is subject to 

number of approvals, including 10%-owner Alcoa’s right of first 

refusal pursuant to Valco’s corporate governance requirements 

(Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2003b).

Iceland.—Alcoa finalized agreements with the Government of 

Iceland and Landsvirkjun, Iceland’s National Power Company, 

to build the 322,000-t/yr Fjardaal aluminum smelter in Eastern 

Iceland. The $1.1 billion facility was expected to begin 

production in 2007 (Alcoa Inc., 2003f). Bechtel and an Icelandic 

engineering consortium (Honnon, Rafhonnun, VST) were chosen 

to design and build the new smelter (Alcoa Inc., 2003c).

Nordic Aluminium Oyj (Nordural) secured electricity supply 

contracts that would provide the power required to double 

capacity at its smelter to 180,000 t/yr. Sudurnes Heating Service 

and Reykjavik Energy were each to construct an 80-megawatt 

(MW) plant to provide the 150 MW of power that expansion 

would require. Nordural was owned by U.S.-based Columbia 

Ventures Corp. (Mining Journal, 2003b).

India.—Bharat Aluminium Corp. initiated plans to increase 

capacity at its 103,000-t/yr Korba smelter by an additional 

250,000 t/yr. The $850 million project was scheduled for 
5.6 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2003

completion by yearend 2005. Increasing generating capacity at 

the captive powerplant and expanding alumina capacity were 

also being considered (CRU Aluminium Monitor, 2003b).

Hindalco Industries Ltd. completed the expansion of its 

facilities at Renukoot that increased capacity of the complex 

to 660,000 t/yr of alumina and 345,000 t/yr of aluminum. 

Hindalco also announced plans to further increase the capacity 

of the plants by removing process bottlenecks, with final targets 

of 700,000 t/yr of alumina and 360,000 t/yr of aluminum by 

yearend 2005 (Mining Journal, 2003a).

Indian Aluminium idled its 14,000-t/yr Alupuram smelter 

(CRU Aluminium Monitor, 2003a).

Japan.—Furukawa Electric and Sky Aluminium integrated 

their aluminum facilities to form the country’s leading 

aluminum fabricator Furukawa-Sky Aluminium Corp. Of the 

two partners, Furukawa was the major, contributing four main 

plants and 70% of the new company’s capital. Sky, with its five 

shareholders—Showa Denko K.K., Marubeni Corp., Nippon 

Steel, Mitsui & Co., and Mizuho Bank, brought one factory and 

30% of the capital. In 2002, Furukawa produced 200,000 t of 

aluminum sheet and plate and 40,000 t of extrusions, while Sky 

produced 145,000 t of sheet and plate (McCulloch, 2003).

Kobe Steel Ltd. and Alcoa announced the termination of their 

can stock joint ventures and the expansion of their alliance to 

develop aluminum products for the automotive market. The 

companies intended to expand their existing cooperation in 

aluminum sheet for global automotive customers by adding 

research and development efforts on aluminum extrusions, 

castings, and forgings. As for their can stock ventures, Kobe 

would acquire control of KSL Alcoa Aluminum Company Ltd. 

in Japan, and Alcoa would receive Kobe’s interest in KAAL 

Australia Pty. Ltd. (Alcoa Inc., 2003p).

Kazakhstan.—Corica AG, part of the Swiss-based J&W 

Investment Group, purchased a 31.8% interest in Alyumini 

Kazakhstan, which owned the 1.35-Mt/yr Pavlodar alumina 

refinery. Under terms of the agreement, Corica was obligated 

to build a 240,000-t/yr smelter in Kazakhstan. The interest was 

expected to be transferred upon completion of the first 60,000 

t/yr of smelter capacity that had to be finished by yearend 2007 

(CRU Alumina Monitor, 2003).

Malaysia.—Alcan increased its share in Aluminium Company 

of Malaysia, a manufacturer of light gauge aluminum products, 

to 60% from 36%. Alcan acquired the additional shares from 

Nippon Light Metal in exchange for its ownership in Alcan 

Nikkei Siam Limited in Rangsit, Thailand (Alcan Inc., 2003d).

Mozambique.—In October, phase two expansion of the 

Mozal aluminum smelter reached its full production capacity 

about 7 months ahead of its original schedule. The 253,000-t/yr 

potline doubled the smelter’s nameplate capacity to 506,000 t/yr. 

Shareholders in Mozal were BHP Billiton (47% and the smelter 

operator), Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan (25%), Industrial 

Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa (24%), and the 

Government of Mozambique (4%) (BHP Billiton, 2003b).

Nigeria.—Prior to the privatization sale of the Aluminum 

Smelter Co. of Nigeria (Alscon), the Government proposed a 

restructuring of smelter ownership to better reflect what the 

Government claimed was the partners’ respective debt liabilities. 

Under the proposal, the Government share would increase to 

90% from 70%, whereas Ferrostaal AG’s stake would decrease 

to 7.5% from 20% and Alcoa’s share would drop to 2.5% from 

10% (Platts Metals Week, 2003e).

Norway.—Elkem ASA completed the potline expansion at its 

Mosjøen smelter that increased capacity to 185,000 t/yr (Alcoa 

Inc., 2004, p. 8).

Hydro Aluminium AS announced its intention to close 

70,000 t/yr of aluminum production capacity at two of its 

Norwegian smelters by 2006. Soderberg lines at the Hoyanger 

and Ardal smelters were to be closed in order to meet tighter 

environmental requirements. Upon closure, capacity at the 

Hoyanger smelter would be reduced by 21,000 t/yr to 54,000 

t/yr, and capacity at the Ardal smelter would decrease by 40,000 

t/yr to a total of 172,000 t/yr (Metal Bulletin, 2003b).

Romania.—Marco International Inc. announced plans to 

increase capacity at its 215,000-t/yr Alro Slatina SA aluminum 

smelter to 300,000 t/yr. In January 2003, Marco International 

and its Romanian and British subsidiaries (Conef SA and Marco 

Acquisitions Ltd.) increased their stake in Alro to 78% from 

52% (American Metal Market, 2003d).

Russia.—Shareholders of Nadvoitsy Aluminium approved 

plans to formally merge with the Siberian-Urals Aluminum 

Company (SUAL). Prior to the merger, SUAL held or 

controlled more than 90% of the 75,000-t/yr smelter (CRU 

Aluminium Monitor, 2003c).

SUAL announced the completion of a $40 million upgrade 

of its Ural Aluminium smelter. The addition of a new 162-cell 

prebaked potline increased capacity to 135,000 t/yr (American 

Metal Market, 2003e).

Rostar, Russia’s leading aluminum beverage can 

manufacturer, opened the first of two can lines at its new can 

manufacturing facility in Vsevolozhsk near Leningrad. The 

initial capacity of 800 to 850 million cans per year will double 

with the start of the plant’s second line scheduled for 2004. 

Rostar also signed a deal with Baltika, Russia’s leading brewing 

company, to supply one-half of its can demand (Interfax Mining 

& Metals Report, 2003b).

Saudi Arabia.—The Government’s state-owned mining 

company, Ma’aden, announced that Bechtel had undertaken a 

feasibility study for the development of an integrated aluminum 

project centered around the Al-Zabirah bauxite deposit. The $3.1 

billion project called for ore from the open pit mine in the country’s 

northern desert region to be transported by rail to a 1.4-Mt/yr 

alumina refinery and 600,000-t/yr smelter on the eastern coast of 

the country. The project also included a 1,400-MW powerplant 

and a desalination plant. Ma’aden hoped to begin production of 

alumina and aluminum in 2007 (Metal Bulletin, 2003c).

Slovakia.—Slovalco, a.s. completed its expansion project 

that added 54 new cells to its existing 172-cell potline, which 

increased capacity at the smelter to more than 150,000 t/yr 

(Slovalco, a.s., 2003).

Slovenia.—Hydro entered into a long-term purchase 

agreement, commencing January 1, 2004, with Talum, the 

Slovenian aluminum producer, for foundry-alloy casthouse 

products. In addition to the ongoing agreement for 50,000 

t/yr of extrusions ingots, Talum was to supply Hydro with an 

average of 70,000 t/yr of foundry alloy products during the 

following 7 years (Hydro Aluminium, 2003c).
ALUMINUM—2003 5.7

South Africa.—BHP Billiton announced the completion of its 

Hillside aluminum smelter expansion project at Richards Bay 

several months ahead of schedule. The 132,000-t/yr expansion 

increased Hillside’s capacity to 670,000 t/yr, making it the 

largest smelter in the Southern Hemisphere and the Western 

World (BHP Billiton, 2003a).

United Kingdom.—Alcoa announced the closures of its Swansea, 

Wales, aluminum extrusion and end products plant, which produced 

16,000 t/yr of aluminum extrusions for the construction, general 

engineering, and road transport markets (American Metal Market, 

2003b). Alcoa planned to transfer production to its other plant at 

Banbury, Oxfordshire. Alcoa commissioned a new casting table 

and homogenizing furnace at the Banbury facility that increased 

billet production by 15% to 20%. Plant production, which used a 

combination of aluminum ingot and high-quality scrap as feedstock, 

was estimated to be about 38,000 t/yr of extruded products for the 

automotive and construction industries (Metal Bulletin, 2003a).

Venezuela.—Aluminio del Caroni SA (Alcasa) signed an MOU 

with a consortium headed by Glencore International AG for the 

construction of a fifth potline at its 210,000-t/yr primary aluminum 

smelter. Pechiney was expected to provide the technology for 

the 240,000-t/yr potline, and Fluor Daniel would handle the 

engineering and construction of the $650 million project (American 

Metal Market, 2003a). Alcasa also announced that it had begun 

to reactivate the 148 cells in potline 2. The line, which was closed 

at yearend 1998, was undergoing a $12 million renovation that 

would eventually bring the smelter back to full capacity (Platts 

Metals Week, 2003a). Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana 

(CVG) announced that it intended to add a sixth potline to its 

CVG Industria Venezolana de Aluminio CA (Venalum) smelter. 

The $683 million project was expected to increase capacity at the 

430,000-t/yr smelter to 640,000 t/yr (Platts Metals Week, 2003g).

Outlook

As the world economies continued to recover, world demand 

for aluminum was expected to increase. In the short term, 

demand could outstrip supply. The uncertainty for aluminum, 

as well as many other commodities, is China. Chinese demand 

for aluminum, in recent years, grew at double digit rates. There 

have been some signs, however, that demand may be slowing 

slightly. Reported shortages in power generation could also lead 

to a decrease in Chinese aluminum metal production. In the near 

term, announced expansions in worldwide smelter production 

should be adequate to meet the anticipated demand growth.

References Cited

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Alcan Inc., 2003a, Alcan and Qingtonxia Aluminum Company to form joint 

venture in China: Beijing, China, and Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. 

press release, October 23, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2003b, Alcan develops a value-creating and sustainable solution 

for treating industrial residue: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press 

release, October 17, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2003c, Alcan Inc. completes VAW Packaging acquisition: Montreal, 

Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, April 30, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2003d, Alcan increases ownership stake in Aluminium Company of 

Malaysia: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Alcan Inc. press release, October 8, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2003e, Alcan to expand automotive business in North America 

manufacturing plant to be built in the Saguenay: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 

Alcan Inc. press release, September 16, 1 p.

Alcan Inc., 2004, Form10-K—2003: Securities and Exchange Commission, 

86 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003a, Alcoa awarded Ford F-150 pick-up hood contract: 

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Alcoa Inc., 2003b, Alcoa begins Troutdale site restoration: Troutdale, OR, 

Alcoa Inc. press release, July 16, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003c, Alcoa chooses Bechtel and Icelandic consortium HRV to 

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Alcoa Inc., 2003d, Alcoa completes acquisition of interests in South American 

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Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, October 3, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003f, Alcoa finalizes agreement with government of Iceland 

and Landsvirkjun, Iceland’s National Power Company, to build Fjardaal 

aluminum facility: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, March 18, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003g, Alcoa Howmet Castings receives JSF orders: Pittsburgh, PA, 

and Paris, France, Alcoa Inc. press release, June 17, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003h, Alcoa Howmet Castings to supply two components for A380; 

Mil-Handbook-5 also accepts new casting data for spring 2004 publication: 

Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, June 16, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003i, Alcoa moves forward on Three Oaks Mine: Pittsburgh, PA, 

Alcoa Inc. press release, September 23, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003j, Alcoa selected to supply Bombardier Aerospace for their 

regional and business jets: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, 

March 20, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003k, Alcoa Texarkana opens new tube mills; customers, 

community leaders, employees participate in dedication ceremonies: 

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press release, September 15, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003m, Alcoa to continue operations at Intalco; uncertainty about 

rates leads to cutbacks: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, October 15, 

1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003n, Alcoa to reduce production at its 2 Massena, NY smelters; 

high power market, raw material prices lead to reduction of 60,000 metric 

tons: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, April 23, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003o, Brunei Economic Development Board and Alcoa sign MOU 

to study feasibility of a Brunei smelter: Pittsburgh, PA, and Brunei, Alcoa 

Inc. press release, September 25, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003p, Kobe Steel and Alcoa to refocus alliance, expand joint 

development in automotive aluminum: Pittsburgh, PA, and Tokyo, Japan, 

Alcoa Inc. press release, August 6, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2003q, Latasa sale to Rexam completed for enterprise value of $462 

million: Pittsburgh, PA, Alcoa Inc. press release, November 26, 1 p.

Alcoa Inc., 2004, Form 10-K—2003: Securities and Exchange Commission, 36 p.

Aluminum Association Inc., 2004a, Aluminum beverage can is most recycled 

consumer beverage package: Washington, DC, Aluminum Association Inc. 

press release, May 21, 4 p.

Aluminum Association Inc., 2004b, The aluminum situation: Aluminum 

Association Inc., March, 4 p.

American Metal Market, 2003a, Alcasa still sorting out potline engineering, 

funding: American Metal Market, v. 111, no. 36-3, September 10, p. 3.

American Metal Market, 2003b, Alcoa cites imports, tepid market in decision to 

shutter UK facility: American Metal Market, v. 111, no. 4-2, January 28, p. 6.

American Metal Market, 2003c, CBA completes smelter upgrade, sees exports 

rising 136% in 2004: American Metal Market, v. 111, no. 42-3, October 22, p. 4.

American Metal Market 2003d, Marco to boost capacity at Alro: American 

Metal Market, v. 111, no. 43-2, October 28, p. 4.

American Metal Market, 2003e, Sual’s $40M smelter revamp done; aluminum 

capacity to 900,000t/year: American Metal Market, v. 111, no. 51-2, 

December 23, p. 4.

BHP Billiton, 2003a, Hillside expansion project produces first metal: 

Johannesburg, South Africa, BHP Billiton news release, October 13, 1 p.

BHP Billiton, 2003b, Mozal smelter expansion officially opened: Maputo, 

Mozambique, BHP Billiton news release, October 9, 1 p.

Brooks, David, 2003a, Energy costs force Columbia to shut potlines: American 

Metal Market, v. 111, no. 11-1, March 14, p. 1, 3.
5.8 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2003

Brooks, David, 2003b, Energy tags, dwindling output crippling factors: 

American Metal Market, v. 111, no. 12-5, March 28, p. 1-2.

Brooks, David, 2003c, Judge denies extension, Longview to get trustee: 

American Metal Market, v. 111, no. 29-5, July 25, p. 1-2.

Century Aluminum Co., 2003a, Century and Kaiser reach new alumina supply 

contract: Monterey, CA, Century Aluminum Co. press release, May 30, 1 p.

Century Aluminum Co., 2003b, Century completes acquisition of remaining 

20% share in Kentucky plant: Monterey, CA, Century Aluminum Co. press 

release, April 1, 1 p.

Century Aluminum Co., 2003c, Mt. Holly aluminum reduction plant sets 10-

year power contract: Monterey, CA, Century Aluminum Co. press release, 

September 5, 1 p.

Clarke, Jo, 2003, China invests in Australia’s Aldoga project: Metal Bulletin, 

no. 8814, November 3, p. 14.

Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2003a, Commonwealth Industries and Wise 

Alloys form strategic alliance to market Commonwealth Aluminum-branded 

wide-width coil products: Lexington, KY, Commonwealth Industries Inc. 

press release, April 9, 2 p.

Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2003b, Commonwealth Industries’ Ohio 

facilities sign new three-year labor contract: Louisville, KY, Commonwealth 

Industries Inc. press release, December 22, 2 p.

Commonwealth Industries Inc., 2003c, Steelworkers at Commonwealth’s 

Lewisport Kentucky plant sign new five-year labor contract: Louisville, KY, 

Commonwealth Industries Inc. press release, April 10, 1 p.

CRU Alumina Monitor, 2003, Company news: CRU Alumina Monitor, April, p. 7-8.

CRU Aluminium Monitor, 2003a, Capacity expansions and closures: CRU 

Aluminium Monitor, August, p. 15.

CRU Aluminium Monitor, 2003b, Capacity expansions & projects: CRU 

Aluminium Monitor, January, p. 16.

CRU Aluminium Monitor, 2003c, Company news: CRU Aluminium Monitor, 

June, p. 15.

Haflich, Frank, 2003, Universal Alloy pressing into new aerospace sector: 

American Metal Market, v. 111, no. 19-2, May 13, p. 1-2.

Henry, Anna, 2003, Alba continues to grow with fifth potline: Light Metal Age, 

v. 61, no. 1-2, February, p. 44-45.

Hydro Aluminium, 2003a, Hydro Aluminium North America announces upgrade 

to Ellenville remelt: Oslo, Norway, Hydro Aluminium press release, April 2, 1 p.

Hydro Aluminium, 2003b, Hydro Aluminium to build precision tubing plant in 

China: Oslo, Norway, Hydro Aluminium press release, December 10, 1 p.

Hydro Aluminium, 2003c, Hydro and Talum with new metal supply agreement: 

Oslo, Norway, Hydro Aluminium press release, October 9, 1 p.

IMCO Recycling Inc., 2003, IMCO Recycling signs long-term tolling agreement 

with Metal Conversions Limited: Irving, TX, IMCO Recycling Inc. press 

release, September 4, 1 p.

Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 2003a, Dutch firm to build $250-$300 mln 

aluminum smelter in Azerbaijan: Interfax Mining & Metals Report, v. 11, 

issue 39, September 26, p. 15-16.

Interfax Mining & Metals Report, 2003b, Rusal to launch new aluminum can 

plant in Dec: Interfax Mining & Metals Report, v. 11, issue 47, November 

21, p. 15.

International Aluminium Institute, 2004, Aluminium inventories: International 

Aluminium Institute Form 351, April 26, 3 p.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2003a, Kaiser Aluminum announced 

indefinite curtailment of Mead smelter; company to record related charges in 

financial results: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press 

release, January 13, 1 p.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2003b, Kaiser Aluminum signs MOU with 

Republic of Ghana to sell its 90% interest in Valco: Houston, TX, Kaiser 

Aluminum & Chemical Corp. press release, December 19, 1 p.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., 2003c, Kaiser aluminum smelter in Ghana 

temporarily to curtail last remaining potline: Houston, TX, Kaiser Aluminum 

& Chemical Corp. press release, April 30, 1 p.

London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2003, Aluminium stocks: London [United 

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

McCulloch, Russ, 2003, A marriage of convenience?: Metal Bulletin Monthly, 

no. 396, December, p. 27, 29.

Metal Bulletin, 2003a, Alcoa raises billet production at Banbury: Metal 

Bulletin, no. 8755, March 10, p. 14.

Metal Bulletin, 2003b, Hydro to keep open older Norwegian smelters: Metal 

Bulletin, no. 8816, November 17, p. 6.

Metal Bulletin, 2003c, Saudi al project proceeds to feasibility study: Metal 

Bulletin, no. 8792, July 21, p. 6.

Metal Bulletin Monthly, 2003, New “bottle can” invades USA: Metal Bulletin 

Monthly, no. 389, May, p. 49.

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no. 8749, August 15, p. 108.

Mining Journal, 2003b, Nordural gets power for expansion: Mining Journal, 

 v. 341, no. 8762, November 14, p. 394.

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Noranda Inc. press release, August 14, 1 p.

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Ormet Corp., 2003a, Ormet announces potline curtailments: Hannibal, OH, 

Ormet Corp. press release, December 23, 2 p.

Ormet Corp., 2003b, Ormet announces sale of Iuka Lamination Division: 

Wheeling, WV, Ormet Corp. press release, November 17, 1 p.

Pechiney, 2003a, Activity to be suspended at Auzat smelting workshop: Paris, 

France, Pechiney press release, March 19, 1 p.

Pechiney, 2003b, Pechiney and Baotou Aluminium Company set the basis of 

a joint-venture in China: Beijing, China, and Paris, France, Pechiney press 

release, August 26, 1 p.

Pechiney, 2003c, Pechiney buys out all of its financial partners’ shares in 

Aluminium Dunkerque: Paris, France, Pechiney press release, July 9, 1 p.

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 no. 25, June 23, p. 4.

Platts Metals Week, 2003b, Golden Northwest Aluminum files for Chapter 11 

bankruptcy: Platts Metals Week, v. 74, no. 52, December 29, p. 7-8.

Platts Metals Week, 2003c, IMCO expects improved al volumes, margins in Q4: 

Platts Metals Week, v. 74, no. 45, November 10, p. 13.

Platts Metals Week, 2003d, JW Aluminum to be sold to Wellspring Capital for 

$125-mil: Platts Metals Week, v. 74, no. 44, November 3, p. 3-4.

Platts Metals Week, 2003e, Nigeria puts off aluminum smelter sale, aims for 

October: Platts Metals Week, v. 74, no. 33, August 18, p. 1, 13.

Platts Metals Week, 2003f, Rexam closes US can, end plant: Platts Metals 

Week, v. 74, no. 50, December 15, p. 8.

Platts Metals Week, 2003g, Venezuela strives to be eighth-largest aluminum 

producer: Platts Metals Week, v. 74, no. 4, January 27, p. 9-10.

Slovalco, a.s., 2003, Last cell on stream: Ziar nad Hronom, Slovakia, Slovalco, 

a.s. news release, September 10, 1 p.

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U.S. Geological Survey Publications

Aluminum. Ch. in Mineral Commodity Summaries, annual.

Aluminum. Mineral Industry Surveys, monthly.

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Resources, Professional Paper 820, 1973.

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annual.

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quarterly.

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Other

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Mines Bulletin 675, 1985.

Aluminum Statistical Review. Aluminum Association Inc., 

annual.
ALUMINUM—2003 5.9

TABLE 1

SALIENT ALUMINUM STATISTICS1

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

United States:

Primary production

Quantity thousand metric tons 3,779 3,668 2,637 2,707 2,703

Value millions $5,470 $6,030 $4,000 $3,870 $4,060

Price, average, U.S. market, spot cents per pound 65.7 74.6 68.8 64.9 68.1

Inventories (December 31):

Aluminum industry

2 thousand metric tons 1,870 1,550 1,300 1,320 1,400

LME stocks in U.S. warehouses3 do. 14 (4) 28 45 207

Secondary y:

5 recover do. 3,700 3,450 2,970 2,930 2,820

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

Old scrap do. 1,570 1,370 1,210 1,170 1,070

Exports, crude and semicrude do. 1,650 1,760 1,590 1,590 1,540

Imports for consumption, crude and semicrude do. 4,000 3,910 3,740 4,060 4,130

Su l 6 pp y, apparent do. 9,890 9,610 7,990 8,070 r 7,880

Consump , 7 tion apparent do. 7,770 7,530 6,230 6,320 r 6,130

World, production do. 23,600 24,300 r 24,300 26,000 r 27,700 e

e

Estimated. rRevised. 1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits except "United States, primary production, quantity." 2

Data from the Aluminum Association Inc.; includes ingot, semifabricated material, and scrap. 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.

TABLE 2

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

Yearend capacity

(thousand metric tons)

Company 2002 2003 2003 ownership 

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

Alcoa Inc.:

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

Badin, NC 120 120 Do.

Evansville, IN (Warrick) 309 309 Do.

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

Frederick, MD (Eastalco) 192 195 Do.

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

Massena, NY 130 130 Do.

Mount Holly, SC 212 224 Alcoa Inc., 50.3%; Century Aluminum Co., 49.7%.

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

Wenatchee, WA 227 227 Do.

Total 2,070 2,080

Century Aluminum Co.:

Hawesville, KY 237 244 Century Aluminum Co., 100%.

Ravenswood, WV 170 170 Do.

Total 407 414

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

Goldendale Aluminum Co., Goldendale, WA 168 160 Private interest, 60%; employees, 40%.

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

Longview Aluminum, L.L.C., Longview, WA 204 204 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 257 265 Ormet Corp., 100%.

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

Grand total 4,120 4,140 1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
5.10 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2003

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

2002:

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

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

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

Foundries 112,000 95,300 102,000

Other consumers 8,320 8,250 8,250

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

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

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 7,940 7,860 7,870

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

Estimated full industry coverage 3,460,000 2,630,000 2,820,000 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 20031, 2

(Metric tons)

Stocks, Net Stocks,

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

Secondary smelters:

New scrap:

Solids 11,600 223,000 223,000 12,200

Borings and turnings 4,930 198,000 199,000 4,300

Dross and skimmings 5,020 455,000 456,000 4,640

Other

4 616 209,000 209,000 751

Total 22,100 1,090,000 1,090,000 21,900

Old scrap:

Castings, sheet, clippings 8,870 246,000 247,000 7,630

Aluminum-copper radiators 1,550 15,400 15,500 1,400

Aluminum cans5 838 62,800 62,600 1,070

Other

6 1,310 105,000 104,000 3,230

Total 12,600 430,000 429,000 13,300

Sweated pig 694 r 9,240 9,750 190

Total secondary smelters 35,400 r 1,520,000 1,520,000 35,400

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

New scrap:

Solids 18,200 r 732,000 742,000 8,190

Borings and turnings 465 17,300 17,300 465

Dross and skimmings 177 r 6,560 6,570 170

Other

4 6,150 174,000 175,000 5,390

Total 24,900 r 930,000 941,000 14,200

Old scrap:

Castings, sheet, clippings 3,240 r 109,000 109,000 3,240

Aluminum-copper radiators 361 5,720 5,920 165

Aluminum cans5 27,900 600,000 615,000 13,100

Other

6 22 29,800 29,800 22

Total 31,500 r 744,000 759,000 16,600

See footnotes at end of table.

TABLE 4--Continued

U.S. STOCKS, RECEIPTS, AND CONSUMPTION OF PURCHASED NEW AND OLD ALUMINUM SCRAP AND SWEATED PIG IN 20031, 2

(Metric tons)
ALUMINUM—2003 5.11

TABLE 5

PRODUCTION AND SHIPMENTS OF SECONDARY ALUMINUM ALLOYS BY INDEPENDENT SMELTERS IN THE UNITED STATES1

(Metric tons)

2002 2003

Production Net shipments2 Production Net shipments2

Diecast alloys:

13% Si, 360, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 24,300 25,200 21,100 21,200

380 and variations 384,000 379,000 317,000 318,000

Sand and permanent mold:

95/5 Al-Si, 356, etc. (0.6% Cu, maximum) 49,100 61,800 49,200 48,700

No. 319 and variations 128,000 134,000 97,000 96,800

F-132 alloy and variations 27,700 27,300 25,800 26,600

Al-Mg alloys 1,190 1,180 2,360 2,310

Al-Zn alloys 2,080 3,020 1,760 1,620

Al-Si alloys (0.6% to 2.0% Cu) 634 614 37 56

Al-Cu alloys (1.5% Si, maximum) 3,460 3,590 4,570 4,620

Al-Si-Cu-Ni alloys 45 38 63 65

Other 938 975 390 363

Miscellaneous:

Steel deoxidation W W W W

Pure (97.0% Al) W W W W

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

Other

3 88,000 87,800 100,000 102,000

Wrought alloys, extrusion billets 240,000 240,000 236,000 235,000

Total 954,000 968,000 859,000 861,000

Consumption of materials other than scrap:

Primary aluminum 97,700 XX 121,000 XX

Primary silicon 43,400 XX 39,600 XX

Other 9,040 XX 8,030 XX

See footnotes at end of table.

TABLE 5--Continued

PRODUCTION AND SHIPMENTS OF SECONDARY ALUMINUM ALLOYS BY INDEPENDENT SMELTERS IN THE UNITED STATES1

(Metric tons)

Other

22 29,800 29,800 22

Total 31,500 r 744,000 759,000 16,600

See footnotes at end of table.

TABLE 4--Continued

U.S. STOCKS, RECEIPTS, AND CONSUMPTION OF PURCHASED NEW AND OLD ALUMINUM SCRAP AND SWEATED PIG IN 20031, 2

(Metric tons)

Stocks, Net Stocks,

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

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

Sweated pig 22 196 217 1

Total integrated aluminum companies, foundries, independent mill fabricators, other consumers 56,500 r 1,670,000 1,700,000 30,800

All scrap consumed:

New scrap:

Solids 29,700 r 955,000 964,000 20,400

Borings and turnings 5,400 215,000 216,000 4,770

Dross and skimmings 5,200 r 462,000 462,000 4,810

Other

4 6,760 384,000 384,000 6,140

Total 47,100 r 2,020,000 2,030,000 36,100

Old scrap:

Castings, sheet, clippings 12,100 r 355,000 356,000 10,900

Aluminum-copper radiators 1,910 21,100 21,400 1,570

Aluminum cans 28,700 663,000 677,000 14,200

Other

6 1,330 135,000 133,000 3,250

Total 44,100 r 1,170,000 1,190,000 29,900

Sweated pig 716 r 9,440 9,970 191

Total of all scrap consumed 91,800 r 3,200,000 3,220,000 66,200 r

Revised.

1

Includes imported scrap. According to reporting companies, 8.08% of total receipts of aluminum-base scrap (278,000 metric tons) was received on toll arangements. 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).
5.12 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2003

TABLE 6

DISTRIBUTION OF END-USE SHIPMENTS OF ALUMINUM PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, BY INDUSTRY1, 2

2002 2003

Quantity Quantity

(thousand Percentage (thousand Percentage

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

Containers and packaging 2,260 21.1 2,240 21.2

Building and construction 1,560 14.6 1,560 14.8

Transportation 3,410 31.8 3,520 33.3

Electrical 677 6.3 655 6.2

Consumer durables 722 6.8 719 6.8

Machinery and equipment 616 5.8 621 5.9

Other markets 390 3.6 385 3.6

Total to domestic users 9,640 90.0 9,700 91.9

Exportse 1,070 10.0 857 8.1

Grand total 10,700 100.0 10,600 100.0 e

Estimated.

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2

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

Source: The Aluminum Association Inc.

TABLE 7

U.S. NET SHIPMENTS OF ALUMINUM WROUGHT AND CAST PRODUCTS, BY PRODUCERS1, 2

(Thousand metric tons)

2001 2002 2003

Wrought products:3

Sheet, plate, foil 4,370 r 4,450 r 4,390

Pipe, tube, extruded shapes 1,550 r 1,550 r 1,530

Rod, bar, wire, cable 512 r 559 r 514

Forgings (including impacts) 92 r 94 r 89

Powder, flake, paste 56 57 r 56

Total 6,580 r 6,710 r 6,580

Castings:

Sand 251 r 244 NA

Permanent and semipermanent mold 484 r 536 NA

Die 873 r 953 NA

Other 155 r 154 NA

Total 1,760 r 1,890 NA

Grand total 8,340 r 8,600 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. 3

For years 2002 and 2003, wrought products data series revised to include net shipments in the United States and Canada.

Sources: Wrought products, The Aluminum Assosiation Inc.; Castings, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Primary silicon 43,400 XX 39,600 XX

Other 9,040 XX 8,030 XX

See footnotes at end of table.

TABLE 5--Continued

PRODUCTION AND SHIPMENTS OF SECONDARY ALUMINUM ALLOYS BY INDEPENDENT SMELTERS IN THE UNITED STATES1

(Metric tons)

2002 2003

Production Net shipments2 Production Net shipments2

Net metallic recovery from aluminum scrap and sweated pig consumed in production of

secondary aluminum ingot

4 804,000 XX 691,000 XX

W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included with "Miscellaneous, other." XX Not applicable. 1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2

Includes inventory adjustment.

3

Includes other diecast alloys.

4

No allowance made for meltloss of primary aluminum and alloying ingredients.
ALUMINUM—2003 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)

2002:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kazakhstan -- -- 181 431 -- -- 181 431

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

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

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

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

Russia 19 53 30 387 9 5 58 445

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other 1,630 5,920 38,600 r 161,000 11,600 11,500 51,800 r 178,000

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

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 r

Revised. -- Zero.

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2

Includes castings, forgings, and unclassified semifabricated forms. 3

Less than 1/2 unit.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
5.14 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2003

TABLE 9

U.S. EXPORTS OF ALUMINUM, BY CLASS1

2002 2003

Quantity Value Quantity Value

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

Crude and semicrude:

Metals and alloys, crude 206,000 $337,000 214,000 $351,000

Scrap 613,000 603,000 577,000 633,000

Plates, sheets, bars, strip, etc. 706,000 1,880,000 690,000 1,900,000

Castings and forgings 19,200 132,000 20,000 142,000

Semifabricated forms, n.e.c. 41,500 205,000 36,800 198,000

Total 1,590,000 3,160,000 1,540,000 3,220,000

Manufactures:

Foil and leaf 60,800 213,000 72,900 235,000

Powders and flakes 8,850 40,100 12,000 50,400

Wire and cable 30,800 76,700 30,400 80,000

Total 100,000 330,000 115,000 365,000

Grand total 1,690,000 3,490,000 1,650,000 3,590,000 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

2002 2003

Quantity Value Quantity Value

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

Crude and semicrude:

Metals and alloys, crude 2,790,000 $4,040,000 2,870,000 $4,270,000

Plates, sheets, strip, etc., n.e.c.2 637,000 r 1,430,000 r 653,000 1,510,000

Pipes, tubes, etc. 17,000 94,900 26,900 134,000

Rods and bars 149,000 417,000 142,000 435,000

Scrap 466,000 502,000 440,000 496,000

Total 4,060,000 6,490,000 r 4,130,000 6,840,000

Manufactures:

Foil and leaf3 105,000 337,000 110,000 354,000

Powders and flakes 3,570 14,200 5,570 18,500

Wire 118,000 190,000 156,000 269,000

Total 227,000 541,000 271,000 642,000

Grand total 4,290,000 r 7,030,000 r 4,400,000 7,480,000 r

Revised.

1

Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2

Includes plates, sheets, circles, and disks.

3

Excludes etched capacitor foil.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
ALUMINUM—2003 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)

2002:

Argentina 82,300 $118,000 794 r $1,510 r 479 $579 83,500 $120,000

Australia 95,500 139,000 108 785 125 130 95,700 140,000

Bahrain 18,200 26,500 19,100 36,800 -- -- 37,200 63,300

Belgium (3) 5 8,680 r 21,000 r 450 691 9,130 r 21,700 r

Brazil 41,000 61,600 2,910 5,390 14,800 19,400 58,700 86,300

Canada 1,580,000 2,320,000 454,000 r 999,000 r 293,000 312,000 2,330,000 3,630,000

China 562 1,130 16,500 46,000 r 1,220 820 18,300 48,000 r

France 1,160 5,900 6,400 r 25,000 r 3,520 3,100 11,100 r 34,000 r

Germany 2,360 8,260 61,000 205,000 4,970 4,830 68,300 218,000

Italy 80 122 2,520 9,820 42 45 2,640 9,990 r

Japan 548 1,150 9,160 r 39,800 249 769 9,950 41,700

Kazakhstan -- -- -- -- 110 100 110 100

Korea, Republic of 3,510 5,160 5,450 14,500 99 135 9,060 19,800

Mexico 4,690 8,670 15,200 r 63,900 r 62,000 61,300 81,900 r 134,000

Netherlands 440 1,460 2,710 8,310 1,570 2,080 4,730 11,900

Norway 3,810 6,170 125 433 -- -- 3,930 6,600

Panama -- -- 801 2,560 3,710 3,670 4,510 6,230

Russia 634,000 863,000 60,800 110,000 25,400 33,600 720,000 1,010,000

Slovakia 43 46 1 6 -- -- 45 52

Slovenia 1 16 3,390 8,860 -- -- 3,390 8,870

South Africa 15,900 21,300 31,900 72,300 8 4 47,800 93,600

Spain 624 1,450 244 1,300 -- -- 868 2,750

Ukraine -- -- 20 30 -- -- 20 30

United Arab Emirates 61,200 95,400 -- -- 777 841 61,900 96,300

United Kingdom 1,230 1,930 8,410 r 31,900 r 4,490 4,860 14,100 r 38,700 r

Venezuela 203,000 294,000 21,800 36,000 7,330 6,580 232,000 337,000

Other 39,800 56,900 72,000 r 204,000 r 41,700 r 46,200 r 153,000 r 307,000 r

Total 2,790,000 4,040,000 804,000 r 1,940,000 r 466,000 502,000 4,060,000 6,490,000 r

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 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: U.S. Census Bureau.
5.16 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2003

TABLE 12

ALUMINUM, PRIMARY: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY1, 2

(Thousand metric tons)

Country 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003e

Argentina 206 262 245 e 269 r 272 p

Australia 1,718 1,769 1,797 r 1,836 1,857 3

Bahrain 503 509 523 r 519 r 525 3

Bosnia and Herzegovinae, 4 70 95 96 104 105

Brazil 1,250 1,277 r 1,140 r 1,318 1,381 3

Cameroon 90 86 r 91 r 80 e 80

Canada 2,390 2,373 2,583 2,709 2,792 3

Chinae 2,530 2,800 3,250 4,300 5,450

Croatia4 14 15 r 16 r -- r --

Egypt 193 193 189 e 190 e 190

France 455 441 462 463 r 450

Germany 634 644 652 653 r 650

Ghana 104 137 r 144 r 117 r 13

Greece 170 168 166 r 165 165

Hungary 34 34 34 r, e 35 e 35

Iceland5 220 224 243 264 260

India6 614 644 624 671 r 790

Indonesiae, 6 106 160 180 160 180

Iran 137 140 e 160 r 169 r 170

Italy 187 189 187 190 r 190

Japan7 11 7 7 6 r 7

Mexico6 63 61 52 39 r --

Mozambique -- 54 266 273 408 3

Netherlands 286 302 294 284 r 300

New Zealand 327 328 322 335 e 340

Nigeriae 16 -- -- -- --

Norway 1,020 1,026 1,068 1,096 1,150

Poland8 51 47 45 51 r, e 50

Romania9 174 179 182 187 r 190

Russia 3,146 3,245 3,300 3,347 3,478 3

Serbia and Montenegro4 73 88 100 112 r 115

Slovakia6 109 110 110 e 112 e 115

Slovenia4 77 84 r 77 r 88 85

South Africa 689 673 662 707 r 738 3

Spain 364 366 376 380 385

Surinamee 6 -- -- -- --

Sweden 99 101 102 101 101

Switzerland 34 36 r 36 r 40 r 40

Tajikistan 229 269 r 289 308 319 3

Turkeye 62 61 62 r, 3 63 r 63

Ukraine9 115 104 r 106 112 114 3

United Arab Emirates, Dubaie 440 470 500 536 540

United Kingdom 272 305 341 344 r 325

United States 3,779 3,668 2,637 2,707 2,703 3

Venezuela 570 571 r 571 605 r 601 3

Total 23,600 24,300 r 24,300 26,000 r 27,700 e

Estimated. pPreliminary. 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 10, 2004. 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: 1999--34,893; 2000--40,956; 2001--26,586; 2002--40,443

(revised); and 2003--40,000 (estimated).

8

Primary unalloyed ingot plus secondary unalloyed ingot.

9

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