Global demand for primary aluminum is set to reach 75 million tonnes by 2020 with China, India and Brazil becoming the growth centers for aluminum based products.

The current supply is pegged at 60 million tonnes including 10 million tonnes from recycling of industrial scrap and an equal quantity from recycling of aluminum while production reached 40 million tonnes.

Mr Chris Bayliss global projects director of International Aluminum Institute said that Per capita consumption of the metal in India was however low at 1.8 kilogram compared to the world average of 8 kilogram notwithstanding the fact that domestic demand for aluminum reached its highest with 11% growth last year.

Mr Bayliss presented the global scenario of aluminum as part of the ongoing International Conference. He was optimistic that commissioning of several power projects could fuel domestic demand while indicators for electrical sector, one of the largest consumers followed by building construction and transportation were highly encouraging.

Even as Mr Bayliss expressed concern over the poor capacity addition over the last few years, aluminum major Hindalco, part of the USD 35 billion Aditya Birla Group, announced its entry into segments such as windows and door systems and building façade for residential and commercial properties.

Mr Bayliss said that one of the major concerns was the decision of China to cap smelting capacity because of various reasons. But what we hear now is that they will reverse the decision to increase smelting capacity significantly. Only Chinese have the capacity to add smelting capacity in quick time.

(Sourced from www.thehindu.com)