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USA
Alcoa to Close or Curtail 531000 t/a of Smelting CapacityAlcoa intends to close or curtail approximately 531000 t or 12 % of its global smelting capacity.
The company will permanently close its smelter in Alcoa, Tennessee, which was curtailed in 2009, along with two of the six idled potlines at its Rockdale, Texas smelter. Together, these closures will reduce Alcoa’s global smelting capacity of 4,5 Mt/a by 291000 t/a, or about 7 %. The curtailments, to be announced in the near future, will reduce Alcoa’s global smelting capacity by an additional 240000 t or about 5 %. The curtailments are expected to be complete by the first half of 2012. Alcoa’s alumina production will be reduced across the global refining system to reflect the final curtailments in smelting as well as prevailing market conditions. The curtailments will contribute to the company’s long-term goal of lowering Alcoa’s position on the world aluminum production cost curve by 10 % (1/2012). |












