OREANDA-NEWS. SUAL Group, one of the world's top ten aluminium producers, has summed up the production results of 2006.

Primary aluminium production grew to 1.06 million tonnes due to continued investment in technical upgrade of the smelters and improved operating conditions. The result was 1.4% above the 2005 production level.

In 2006 alumina production equaled 2.31 million tonnes, a growth of 0.9% over previous year levels.

In 2006 the volume of silicon production decreased by 6.1% as compared with 2005. The decrease in production is a result of deliveries of Chinese silicon into Russia following abolishment of protective import tariff as well as dramatic energy tariff growth in Ukraine, which forced the company to stop silicon production at ZALK.

Continuing modernization of production capacities and effective marketing policies guaranteed an increase in quantity and quality of SUAL Group's downstream production.

In 2006 the output of rolled and semi-finished products exceeded the levels of previous year by 21.3% thanks to the implementation of an investment program, which included launch of new casting facilities and modernization of mill and extrusion production.

An integrated program of production development and successful market promotion helped to increase the volumes of foil and aluminium strip output by 3.9% as compared with 2005.

Consumer goods production concentrated on manufacturing less metal-intensive products with a higher added value component, improving economic value of the business unit and maintaining market share despite volumes declining by 3.9%.