Non-Ferrous Industry to Expect Growth in Demand and Prices

Last year was hard for the non-ferrous industry: it began with growth in prices for non-ferrous metals which followed by a shear fall in prices and demand.
Such a situation could not help affecting Russian companies: some such as Rusal, reduced output, others (e.g. Ufaleynickel) stopped production or curtailed investment programs. The situation with traders is no better. Now all are trying to predict prices for 2009.
According to some forecasts, an average price for aluminium may reach $1,410 thou to $2 thou per a ton, copper – $2,950-3 thou, nickel– $8,980 thou to $12 thou. However, by the end of 2009 the demand for non-ferrous metals may slightly grow causing growth in prices.
Since such a difficult and changeable situation in the market needs analyses, Metal Supply and Sales magazine plans to organize a series of conferences in 2009 dedicated to production, distribution and use of non-ferrous metals such as Aluminium in Architecture and Construction, on March 17, Modern Casting Technologies and Equipment, March 13, Russian Non-Ferrous Metals Market, March 9.