OREANDA-NEWS. February 17, 2011. UC RUSAL (SEHK: 486, EuroNext: RUSAL/RUAL, MICEX: RUALR, RTS: RUAL), the world's largest aluminium producer, announces its key production data for 2010.

Key highlights:

•           Total aluminium output amounted to 4,083 thousand tonnes in 2010, an increase of 3% as compared to 2009.

•           Alumina output totalled 7,840 thousand tonnes in 2010, an increase of 8% as compared to 2009.

•           Bauxite production totalled 11.8 million tonnes in 2010 and increased by 4% as compared to 2009.

•           Nepheline production increased by 9% to 4.9 million tonnes in 2010 compared to 4.4 million tonnes in 2009.

•           Aluminium foil and packaging production volume increased by 17% to 81.4 thousand tonnes in 2010 compared to 69.8 thousand tonnes in 2009.

•           RUSAL plans to increase production of aluminium by 2% in 2011, compared to 2010. The increase is expected to include an increase in production at the Siberian smelters in Russia.

•           RUSAL expects to increase alumina output by 8% in 2011 compared to 2010, mainly by increasing production at Windalco-Ewarton Plant Works in Jamaica.

•           RUSAL forecasts that aluminium consumption in China in 2011 will grow by 12% and reach 18.5 million tonnes.

•           RUSAL forecasts that China will continue to increase its imports of primary aluminium in the medium term.

Commenting on the full year production results, Oleg Deripaska, CEO of RUSAL said:

"2010 witnessed the recovery of global aluminium consumption to levels above even the most optimistic forecasts of experts. As a result of our operational flexibility, diversified asset and sustainable low cost production, we were able to meet the rising demand by increasing production volumes at our most economically and environmentally efficient facilities. Looking ahead we are well positioned to take advantage of the positive long term fundamentals for the aluminium industry. We will continue to develop a new, more technologically advanced base for increasing our production output by resuming construction of the Boguchansk aluminium smelter and pursuing the programme of modernisation of existing facilities. Our goal is to fully satisfy needs of end users, including through our active participation in joint creation of new products. In order to achieve that, RUSAL is focusing on products with high added value through improving and developing foundry manufacturing within the aluminium division. This will enable the Company to increase production of alloys and meet the high demand from consumers representing the global automotive and construction industries.''

Key operating data

Three months ended 31 Dec

Year ended 31 Dec

Change year- on-year

 

('000 tonnes) unless otherwise indicated

2010

2009

2010

2009

(%)

Aluminium

1,050

989

4,083

3,946

3%

Alumina

2,082

1,884

7,840

7,279

8%

Bauxite (million tonnes wet)

3.1

2.6

11.8

11.3

4%

Nepheline (million tonnes wet)

1.2

1.1

4.9

4.4

9%

Aluminium foil and packaging products

21.2

20.5

81.4

69.8

17%

UC RUSAL assets also include two quartzite wines, one fluorite mine, two coal wines, one nepheline syenite wine and two liwestone wines. The Cowpany also has three aluminium powder metallurgy plants and produces cryolite, aluminium fluoride and cathodes.