Noranda aluminum industry postpones smelter upgrades

According to a recent news report, KipSmith, chief executive of Noranda Aluminum Holding Co., said on a conference call on Wednesday that the delay in the early fall of aluminum prices earlier this year has delayed the expansion of the smelter in New Madrid, Missouri. plan.

Nolanda Aluminum has stated that it is expected that the aluminum smelter with a capacity of 253,000 tons will achieve full capacity operation in the third quarter of this year.

Smith said in a conference call discussing the company’s second quarter earnings that the capacity utilization rate of the smelter is currently around 85%.

Imports continued to be high, and the lifting of the financing agreement dragged the US aluminum premium down to a minimum level of over 3 years of 8-9 cents per pound. The fall in prices changed the Nolan aluminum plan.

Smith said: "The economic benefits of increased production have changed."

He pointed out that the company focuses on achieving "operational stability" and will "prudently" increase smelter output in the fourth quarter of 2015.

He added that the company is optimistic about the long-term prospects of aluminum prices.