查看更多>>摘要：Producer inventories totaled 2.826 billion pounds in May, a decrease of 2.2 percent from the April level of 2.891 billion pounds. According to the Association's "Index of Net New Orders of Aluminium Mill Products," June orders declined 1 7.4 percent from May and recorded a drop of 11.7 percent from June 2001. Orders for flat roll products (including can stock) fell 17.8 percent from last month while extrusions and tube were down 18.2 percent. Orders for rod, bar and wire decreased 18.1 percent from May.
查看更多>>摘要：Hydro Aluminium, the metals unit of Norwegian conglomerate Norsk Hydro ASA (NHY), said it has made a long-term production agreement with Russian Aluminium (Rusal) for high-quality aluminium ingots. The agreement will last for more than ten years. Hydro will take part in upgrading the aluminium cast house at Rusal's Sayanogorsk smelter, located in southern Siberia. Rusal accounts for 75 percent of Russia's primary aluminium output and 10 percent of the global primary aluminium output. The upgrading will take place in two stages.
查看更多>>摘要：Pechiney SA said it is awaiting the outcome of its previously stated interest in buying the aluminium assets of Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus Group. "We have made a proposal in line with these objectives, and the bidding process is underway. We are awaiting an outcome to the sale, and we cannot hazard a guess as to what this will be nor when it will be completed," said company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Pierre Rodier, adding that a decision by the anti-trust authorities will also have an impact on the sale outcome. Various other projects are currently underway, Rodier said, with a decision on the company's proposed alumina refinery in India being made. "A new plant has been proposed to the Indian authorities, and the decision process is underway but we have not yet received an answer," he said, adding that an outcome was not expected in the immediate future.
查看更多>>摘要：Pechiney said it will consider the closure of its two aluminium smelters in the French Pyranees if metal prices and the euro-U.S. dollar exchange rate remains at current levels, company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Pierre Rodier said. "The Pyranees smelters have done an excellent job in adapting to the current market situation but if this continues we could be forced to make a decision to close the assets,"
查看更多>>摘要：French aluminium producer Pechiney S.A. (PY) said that its second quarter net profit fell compared with the year-earlier period and is set to fall further in the second half due to depressed aluminium prices and the recent rise in the value of the euro against the dollar. The company's second quarter net profit was EUR9 million compared with EUR73 million a year earlier, while its pretax profit fell to EUR72 million from EUR104 million.
查看更多>>摘要：Copper mine production totaled 54,000 tons for the June quarter compared to 30,700 tons in 2001 thanks to higher throughput at the 63.9 percent-owned Highland Valley Copper and the successful operation at full capacity of the Antamina mine for the second successive quarter since its startup in the fourth quarter of 2001.
查看更多>>摘要：Canadian base metals miner Falconbridge Ltd. reported second-quarter refined nickel production of 25,476 metric tons compared to 25,969 tons in the second quarter of 2001, according to a release of its second-quarter results. Operating income was down during the quarter from 71.6 million dollars a year ago to 57.6 million dollars this quarter because of lower precious metal revenues, Falconbridge also reported. The company said that its Sudbury Mines and mill operated "well" during the quarter, and claimed production at the facility was "up significantly from the same period of 2001, when the mines were completing the ramp-up of operations after the strike ended in February 2001."
查看更多>>摘要：Japan's copper cable shipments in the domestic market and for exports declined in June for the 16th consecutive month, with no signs of recovery in the near term, the Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers Association said. According to the preliminary report on the June figures, copper cable shipments in the domestic market fell nearly 7 percent on year to 62,800 tons, the association said. For exports, shipments declined almost 20 percent to 2,900 tons, according to the report. Japan's copper cable shipments have been falling since March 2001, tracking Japan's economic slowdown. "We still have to monitor Japan's economic conditions and those in other countries, particularly the U.S.," a spokesman of the association said. He wouldn't comment on Japan's economic outlook. Previously, the association expected a recovery in copper demand as reflected in shipments in the second half of the year. But now the association will wait and watch for more data from now until September before making any further forecasts, he said.
查看更多>>摘要：BHP Billiton (BHP), reported mostly stronger production for the fiscal year ended June 30. Full year copper production was up 5 percent at 824,300 metric tons. Production in the fiscal fourth quarter was up 14 percent from the third quarter, due mainly to higher output from the Escondida copper mine in Chile. The higher Escondida output reflected the cleanout of ore inventory and better-than-expected performance at the mill, BHP Billiton said.
查看更多>>摘要：China Minmetals Nonferrous Metals Co. has signed a framework contract to extend its long-term purchases of copper cathode from Polih copper producer KGHM Polska Miedz S.A., a Minmetals official said. Under the framework contract, Minmetals will continue to get 50,000 metric tons of copper cathode each year from the Polish producer from 2003 to 2007 at a total price estimated to be around 408 million US dollars, after its current contract expires at the end of this year, the official said. "The president of the Minmetals Group signed the framework contract in Poland last week. Prices and quantity will be finalized after the London Metal Exchange annual dinner" in October, the official said.
NSTL