Covid-19: Hydro curtails production at extrusion sites

The Covid-19 spread continues to weigh on Hydro’s markets and operations, affecting production at several extrusion sites, mainly in Europe. In the Primary Metal division, the recycler Azuqueca in Spain has been temporarily idled while remaining recyclers and primary aluminium plants are challenged by markets and government-imposed restrictions.

Hydro’s corporate emergency team continues to work closely with all business areas to coordinate contingency planning and implement mitigating measures across the company to ensure safe working environment at plants and preparedness plans fit for purpose.

Hydro is supplying material and products to customers having key roles in the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Selected deliveries to the health sector include Hydro Extrusion Spain supplying profiles for three new field hospitals and Hydro Cressona supplying extrusions used to make emergency response equipment and key infrastructure, supporting customers deemed critical to fight Covid-19.

All sites continue to follow Hydro Covid-19 production guidance or country rules, whatever is stricter, with guidance frequently reviewed as more facts on the virus becomes available. Plants in the Benelux region and in Sweden have supported local hospitals with safety protective equipment. Hydro’s part-owned joint venture Albras in Brazil has donated property to the municipality of Barcarena, which will be used as a field hospital in the combat of Covid-19. Collaboration with public authorities in Belèm, Brazil, to supply mineral water to the shelter created by the State Government of Pará, starting with donation of 51,000 litres of mineral water in the Mangueirão stadium.

Regarding the Bauxite & Alumina business

, operations are mostly running as normal, says Hydro, but there is significant market uncertainty. The same applies to the Primary Metal business. Recycler Azuqueca, Spain, temporarily idled this week, while recyclers Luce in France and Clervaux in Luxembourg were temporarily idled last week.

In the Rolled Products division, operations are mostly running as normal at present, but will be impacted, according to Hydro, as customers cut back production, particularly in the automotive sector. An increasing number of Extrusion sites scale down production. Around 45 % of the sites running at approximately normal levels, around 35 % running at reduced levels and around 20 % either closed or running at very low levels, says Hydro.