Russian aluminium production growth accelerating

Russia produced 1,916,287t of aluminium in the first six months of this year, up 4.0% on the year-earlier period, according to figures from the Aluminiy consultancy. That growth rate is steadily accelerating with each passing month. As well as the incremental increases to the country's smelter system due to technology upgrades, accelerating production growth reflects the incremental commissioning of the new 300,000tpy Khakaz smelter. It produced its first metal at the end of last year and is scheduled to produce 234,000t over calendar 2007.