Rio Tinto Alcan to Expand High Valued Products Sales in Asia Pacific

Rio Tinto Alcan tries to increase aluminium ingot supply ability for Asia Pacific area by modernization of Kitimat smelter in British Columbia, Canada and smelter project in Sarawak, Malaysia. The firm tries to increase sales rate for high valued products in Asia Pacific area through investment in casting facility.

A director of sales marketing director for Asia Pacific are said to a reporter of Japan Metal Bulletin the firm didn’t approve the modernization project at Kitimat smelter and Sarawak smelter project finally. However, Kitimat smelter, which supplies ingot to Japan and South Korea, will be expanded the capacity from current annual 270,000 tonnes to more than 400,000 tonnes.

He said Sarawak project is good location to supply for demand growing Asia Pacific area. He said the project is still under study with no time frame and capacity volume but the project will be based on hydro power as Kitimat.

The firm tries to expand the sales of high valued products in Asia Pacific area. The firm sells annual 1.5-1.6 million tonnes of aluminium in the area, of which high valued products including billet, slab, alloy and high purity ingot represent 55-60%. He said the firm tries to increase the high valued products rate.

The firm supplies aluminium ingot from Bell Bay, Boyne Island and Tomago smelters of Ausutralia, New Zealand Aluminium Smelter, Kitimat and Sohar smelter of Oman for Asia Pacific area. The firm operates the 6 smelters at full capacity. The firm has annual 4 million tonnes of smelting capacity. He failed to unveil detailed expansion plan but the firm tries to expand the capacity through the projects including Kitimat, Sarawak and new project in Paraguay.