Future for aluminum seen as 'quite bright'

Aluminum demand increased an estimated 5.5% during 2000, while supply was up < 1%. This resulted in an inventory drawdown of > 525 000 tonnes from their high. For 2001, demand is expected to increase approx4.5% and supply to increase 3.5%, with inventories to be drawn down in excess of 200 000 tonnes. AN average Al price of %0.76/lb. is forecast for 2001. The current risk to the price forecast is a slowdown in US economic growth of sufficient magnitude that leads to a lower rate of global Al consumption. There is limited new capacity coming online in 2001.