UC RusAl to increase aluminum supplies to Asia by 2015

MOSCOW, June 17 (RIA Novosti) - United Company RusAl, the world's largest aluminum producer, plans to increase supplies to Asia and cut exports to North America and Europe by 2015, the company's marketing and sales director said on Tuesday. Peter Finnimore said RusAl's Asian supplies will account for 34% of the total by 2015, up from 19% in 2007. North America's share is planned to be slashed to 8% by 2015 from 10% in 2007. Europe, whose share currently stands at 49%, will receive up to 35% of exports by 2015, and RusAl will slightly reduce its exports to Russia and the CIS from 23% to 22%. RusAl plans to export 23% of its aluminum to Asia, 10% to North America, 45% to Europe and 22% to Russia and the CIS in 2008, Finnimore said. The official said the company also intended to increase aluminum output by 60% against 2007 to 6.7 million metric tons by 2015. RusAl is also considering developing business in Australia and Africa, Finnimore said, however the company has no specific projects planned for the regions as yet. UC RusAl became the world's largest aluminum producer after a March 2007 merger between RusAl, rival Sual, and Swiss Glencore's alumina assets.