Airbus SAS Says May Purchase 5%-10% More Aluminum Next Year

Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Airbus SAS, the world's biggest commercial planemaker, expects to buy 5 percent to 10 percent more aluminum in 2012 on strong demand for aircraft, said Elmar Luetjen, the company's head of procurement, materials aluminum.

"Next year we are absolutely confident in our demand planning," Luetjen said in an interview at a Metal Bulletin conference in Paris. "For the years to come, we have a strong order book."

Toulouse, France-based Airbus hasn't been affected by supply issues, Luetjen said. The London Metal Exchange announced in July plans to double the amount of metal required to be delivered from the biggest stockpiles to ease a backlog in Detroit, home to a quarter of global stockpiles.

"Airbus is covered by our long-term contracts so these short-term up and downs in the market have no effect on our pricing," Luetjen said.

Airbus, which has produced the most commercial planes every year since 2003, handed over 258 planes to customers this year through June, it said in July.

Aluminum accounts for about 75 percent of the weight of an aircraft such as Airbus's A330 model, according to the company.