Alcoa today announced that it will close or curtail 164,000 metric tons (mt) of smelting capacity in the United States and Brazil as part of its smelting capacity review that was announced in May.
One potline representing 40,000 metric tons at the Massena East plant in New York will be permanently closed. In addition, the Company has started to temporarily curtail 124,000 metric tons at its smelters in Brazil. The closures and curtailments will be complete by the end of September.
“We committed in May to review our global smelting capacity for possible curtailment to maintain the Company’s competitiveness,” said Bob Wilt, president of Alcoa’s Global Primary Products. “Aluminum prices, including premiums, have fallen to four-year lows and we continue to operate in an uncertain, volatile market.”
Wilt added that the Company will work with stakeholders in affected communities to minimize the impact of the closures and curtailments.
To date, Alcoa has announced closures or curtailments representing 269,000 metric tons of the 460,000 metric tons placed under review in May. This includes the permanent closure of 105,000 metric tons of capacity announced earlier at Alcoa’s Baie-Comeau smelter in Canada. In addition, the Company permanently closed its Fusina, Italy smelter representing 44,000 metric tons that was not part of the May review.
Once the Massena and Brazil closures and curtailments are complete, Alcoa will have 16 percent, or 646,800 metric tons of smelting capacity idle.
Alcoa’s review of its primary metals operations is consistent with the Company’s 2015 goal of lowering its position on the world aluminum production cost curve by 10 percentage points and the alumina cost curve by 7 percentage points.
Total restructuring-related charges for third quarter 2013 associated with the above actions are expected to be between $5 and $10 million after-tax, or $0.01 per share, of which approximately 50 percent is non-cash.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 125 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 11 consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 30 countries across the world.
Source: alcoa.com
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