Sual posts increased aluminium, alumina and bauxite output in 06

Russian aluminium major Sual, one of the world's top ten aluminium producers, said Monday that its primary aluminium production grew to 1.06 million mt in 2006, 1.4% from its 2005 production level. The group attributed the increase to continued investment in technical upgrade of the smelters and improved operating conditions.

In 2006 Sual mined 5.78 million mt of bauxite, a growth of 6.9% over its results for 2005. "Positive production dynamics was a result of significant rates of production growth at Middle Timan bauxite mine and stable volumes of production at SUBR," it said, adding that in 2006 alumina production equalled 2.31 million mt, a growth of 0.9% over the previous year's level.

Sual said in 2006 the output of rolled and semi-finished products exceeded the levels of previous year by 21.3% "thanks to the implementation of an investment program, which included launch of new casting facilities and modernization of mill and extrusion production."

"An integrated program of production development and successful market promotion helped to increase the volumes of foil and aluminium strip output by 3.9% as compared with 2005," it said, adding that consumer goods production concentrated on manufacturing less metal-intensive products with a higher added value component, improving economic value of the business unit and maintaining market share despite volumes declining by 3.9%.