Brazil Aluminum Consumption to Rise 25 pct in 2010

BRASILIA, July 16 -- Brazil's aluminum consumption will grow by a quarter in 2010 to 1.26 million tonnes, the Brazilian Aluminum Association (Abal) said on Wednesday. Both imports and exports of the metal are also up sharply so far this year.

The association expects consumption to rise to 1.26 million tonnes, from 1.01 million tonnes in 2009, when the global economic crisis dampened demand as the country entered a brief, shallow recession before making a strong rebound this year. Brazil has a large auto making industry and is a significant aluminum consumer.

Abal said imports rose 30 percent in the first three months of this year, to $224 million and are expected to total $1 billion by the end of the year. Exports rose 18 percent in the first quarter and were forecast at $4 billion for all of 2010.