EUROPE’S LARGEST SMELTER TO BE AT FULL CAPACITY IN MAY
Europe’s largest primary aluminum smelter announced that it will return to full production capacity next May. The Dunkirk smelter in France announced last September a production cut of more than 20% due to electricity prices.
Dunkirk Aluminum will restart at full capacity after reducing production in 2022 amid rising energy costs. The aluminum smelter consumes as much energy as Marseille, France’s second largest city.
This drastic measure was achieved by stopping 54 of the smelter’s electrolysis tanks and reducing the intensity of others. Founded in 1991, Aluminium Dunkerque specializes in the manufacture of aluminum slabs and ingots used in the transportation, automotive, aerospace, packaging, building and construction industries.
Aluminum prices have risen sharply over the past year due to a global shortage and also amid the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The smelter has an annual capacity of around 290,000 tons, while employing 600 people.
Over the past year, aluminum prices increased by more than 40% during this year and a booming primary demand, profitability is collapsing. In part, it is due to the energy crisis that has hit all of Europe and driven bills to unsustainable levels for energy-intensive activities. The French plant has lost around €20 million since the beginning of November. Producing one ton of aluminum costs 11,000 dollars, compared to the approximately 2,800 dollars at which the metal is traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME).
The Gallic smelter is owned by the American group American Industrial Partners, which took control after a battle with its previous owner, the British magnate Sanjeev Gupta, who unsuccessfully sought Alcoa’s assets in Galicia.
THE DUNKERQUE SMELTER ANNOUNCES A MAJOR PRODUCTION CUTBACK
SLOVALCO STOPS PRODUCTION OF PRIMARY ALUMINUM
ALCOA TO REDUCE ITS PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN NORWAY TO REDUCE HIGH ENERGY PRODUCTION COSTS
CENTURY TO SHUT DOWN HAWESVILLE ALUMINUM SMELTER DUE TO HIGH ENERGY PRICES
ALCOA BACKS RESTART OF SAN CIPRIAN ALUMINUM SMELTER IN 2024 WITH LONG-TERM RENEWABLE ENERGY CONTRACT
ALUAR ALUMINUM SIGNS AN AGREEMENT WITH VESTAS TO SUPPLY AN ALUMINUM SMELTER IN ARGENTINA
INTERNATIONAL GEOPOLITICS DRIVES UP THE PRICE OF ALUMINUM
ALRO PREPARES FOR A RETURN TO FULL ALUMINUM PRODUCTION BY 2023
ALUMAR CONFIRMS FULL RESUMPTION OF ALUMINUM PRODUCTION BY 2023
FRENCH METALLURGY HARD HIT BY RISING ELECTRICITY PRICES
