German Aluminum Smelter Considers Halving Output on Energy Costs
- Soaring electricity prices and low metal prices hurt profits
- Speira to decide on potential production cuts next month
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Aluminum producer Speira GmbH is considering cutting production at its German smelter to 50% of total capacity in response to surging energy costs that are squeezing power-intensive industries across Europe.
Speira -- which was part of Norsk Hydro ASA’s aluminum business before being sold to KPS Capital Partners last year -- can produce about 160,000 tons of aluminum at its plant in Neuss, although it’s currently only making about 140,000 tons. It will make a decision on the additional curtailment in September, Moritz Hansen, head of communication and marketing at Speira, said by phone.