ZALK's Primary Aluminum Output Down 3.9% yoy In 2006

The Zaporizhzhya Aluminum Mill (ZALK: BUY) lowered its primary aluminum out put in 2006 by 3.9% yoy to 92 ths mt. The company’s alumina production was flat over the same period at about 255 ths mt, however, ZALK increased aluminum wire production by 13.2% yoy to 21 ths mt in 2006. Eugene Cherviachenko: The drop in ZALK’s primary aluminum output in 2006 was not as big as we expected (-5%). However, the company is still waiting on the government to make a decision to lower the price the company pays for electricity or allow the company to receive cheaper energy by being connected to Zaporizhzhya’s hydropower plant DniproGES.