Focus on Demand--2010 offers some hope to US demand after a dismal 2009

摘要

US primary demand is estimated to have plunged 28.2% to approximately 3.7m tonnes in 2009 and although we expect to see a moderate recovery in demand this year, volumes will remain at low absolute levels despite strong looking growth of around 9%. A look back at 2009 shows some bitter realities after living through the worst recession since World War II. Double-digit declines in the key construction and transportation sectors as well as the consumer durables, electronics and machinery sectors ensured that aluminium demand remained very weak for much of the year as end users were hit particularly hard by the economic downturn.