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The aluminium industry

James F King

Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust but, because aluminium was isolated experimentally only in 1827 and produced in commercial quantities only after 1886, its production and use is many times less than that of iron. However over twice as much aluminium is produced as copper and the annual percentage growth in its consumption between 1985 and 1998 at 2.8% is significantly greater than that of iron and steel.

The aluminium industry provides an in-depth overview of the international aluminium trade at the turn of the millennium. Its clearly presented information, analysis and statistics bring the industry into sharp focus – from extraction and refining to applications, markets, prices and future trends.

The aluminium industry is essential reading for:

Professionals whose businesses participate in, supply or buy from any part of the aluminium industry
The finance community with investment interests in the metals or raw materials industries
Engineers needing an overview of the structure and commercial operation of the aluminium industry
Government policy makers and all those needing an introduction to the industry or a training resource for new entrants

Read this guide and find out about:

How the aluminium industry has developed from its earliest beginnings
How the key raw materials, bauxite and alumina are processed
Why technical trends are changing the production of aluminium
How primary aluminium is priced
The role of recycled aluminium metal
How demand is changing and the main applications for aluminium products today and in the future
The organisation of international trade, industry corporate structures and the key issues that will determine the industry's future

ISBN 1 85573 151 7
ISBN-13: 978 1 85573 151 6
February 2001
340 pages  244 x 172mm  looseleaf  
£425.00 / US$720.00 / €530.00

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About the author

James King received a first class degree in Economics from Cambridge University in 1967 and joined the Bank of England. After eight years working on regional economic and industrial development for governments and private consultancies in the UK and Canada, in 1978 Mr King joined Commodities Research Unit Ltd, London as Research director for steel and aluminium.

Since 1980 he has been an independent consultant, specializing in the economic and commercial aspects of the aluminium and steel industries.

Titles which may also be of interest:
Base Metals Handbook
Aluminium
Metals trading handbook

Contents

The metal and its history
 - Properties and background
 - History of aluminium
 - Stages of aluminium production

Bauxite
 - Metallurgical bauxite
 - Non-metallurgical bauxite
 - Bauxite production
 - Bauxite reserves
 - Bauxite quality
 - Bauxite production technology and costs
 - International trade and transport
 - Bauxite market
 - Bauxite prices

Alumina
 - Metallurgical alumina
 - Non-metallurgical alumina
 - Alumina production
 - Alumina quality
 - Alumina production technology and costs
 - International trade and transport
 - Alumina market
 - Alumina prices

Primary aluminium
 - Alumina ingot products
 - Primary aluminium consumption
 - Primary aluminium production
 - Primary aluminium quality *· Primary aluminium production technology and costs
 - International trade and transport
 - Aluminium stocks
 - Primary aluminium market

Secondary aluminium
 - Secondary aluminium products
 - Secondary aluminium processes
 - Secondary aluminium production
 - Secondary aluminium quality
 - Secondary aluminium production technology and costs
 - International trade and transport
 - Secondary aluminium market
 - Secondary aluminium prices

Aluminium products
 - Alloys
 - Physical characteristics
 - Processes
 - Aluminium rolled products
 - Aluminium extruded products
 - Aluminium forged products
 - Aluminium wire rod
 - Aluminium castings

Applications of aluminium products
 - Past trends in semi-finished aluminium consumption
 - Trends in applications

Organisation of aluminium supply
 - The geographical pattern of supply
 - The corporate structure of supply

Issues for the future
 - Aluminium and health
 - Aluminium and the environment
 - Price fluctuations and flexibility
 - Industry structure
 - New forms of commerce

Apendices

A.1 Summary of capacity by plant – bauxite mines

A.2 Summary of capacity by plant – alumina plants

A.3 Summary of capacity by plant – primary aluminium smelters

B.1 Capacities of major aluminium companies

C.1 Price relationships for aluminium products

D.1 Applications for semi-finished aluminium