Sweden’s Granges expects primary aluminum demand in the second quarter of this year to remain healthy as the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced slightly. That said, the company expects its sales volume to remain at par with the first quarter of the year because of the semiconductor shortage across the industry.
Granges’ global aluminum sales volume in Q1 2021 increased by 40pc to 126,700 mt compared to 89,900mt in the same quarter last year. Its sales volume in Europe and Asia (Eurasia) together grew by 88.8pc to 73,200mt in the last quarter compared to 38,800mt in Q1 2020. Sales in the Americas also saw a 7.4pc rise to 62,700mt in Q1 2021 compared to 58,400mt in Q1 last year.
The company’s consolidated net sales saw a 32pc increase to SEK4bn ($474mn) in the first three months of the year compared to SEK3bn from the same period last year. Its operating profit saw a 60.1pc increase to SEK326mn in the first quarter of the year compared to SEK210mn on annual basis.
($1=SEK 8.44)