Aluminum Competitive Issues: International Competition

Environmental Issues
International Competition
Major Products and Markets
Regulations and NOx Control
Summary
Trends / Major Products
Trends / Employment and Productivity
Trends / Energy Consumption by Fuel
Trends / Primary Aluminum Production
Trends / Total Supply of Aluminum
Trends / World Aluminum Output
Trends / Distribution of Power Plants
Trends / Distribution of Processing Plants

The availability of inexpensive Russian primary aluminum caused U.S. aluminum imports to surge by 58% in 1992, and by 37% in 1993. As a result of these increased imports, U.S. primary aluminum production fell. Recent reductions in primary Russian aluminum production has lead to increased primary aluminum prices and increased demand on U.S. primary aluminum producers.

Manufacturers of semifabricated products and consumer products have enjoyed a period of inexpensive raw material supply. Despite this, the export of semifabricated products by U.S. companies has remained relatively flat between 1992 and 1994 due to recessionary economic conditions in Europe and Japan. The U.S. remains a major competitive force in semifabricated aluminum products, maintaining a 10% average annual growth rate of semifabricated exports from 1982 to 1992. Further growth could be realized by reducing the barriers to foreign market access.