Alcoa posts 4Q net loss on weaker aluminum demand

[January 10, 2012]  DETROIT (AP) -- Alcoa Inc. on Monday started off the earnings season by posting its first net loss in more than a year.

The New York manufacturing giant's profits dwindled in the fourth quarter with fewer orders for its products as uncertainty grew about the impact of Europe's debt crisis on the global economy. Also, manufacturing activity declined in China, the world's second biggest economy behind the U.S.

Aluminum prices dropped by about 12 percent in the fourth quarter, and the price has fallen more than 27 percent from its peak in April.

Alcoa's performance can reflect global economic trends because its products are used in a wide range of businesses such as aircraft, automobiles, commercial vehicles like semitrailers, construction and pipe for the oil and gas industry. About half of its sales are in the U.S. and an additional 27 percent are in Europe.

As a result, Alcoa has looked for ways to reduce costs. It plans to cut global smelting capacity 12 percent by closing a smelter in Alcoa, Tenn., and curtailing operations in Texas, Italy and Spain.

Alcoa said that its net loss was $191 million, or 18 cents a share, in the October-to-December quarter. That compares with income of $258 million, or 24 cents a share, a year ago. It marked the company's first net loss since the first quarter of 2010.

The most recent quarter included $185 million in one-time charges, the bulk of which came from its plan to close and curtail some smelting operations. Excluding that, the loss was $34 million, or 3 cents a share.

Alcoa also said its earnings suffered from higher energy and transportation costs.

Revenue rose to $6 billion from $5.65 billion, although business was down in most areas; including construction, industrial products, packaging and commercial transportation. Sales to automobile manufacturers fell 2 percent.

Alcoa had record higher revenue from its aerospace and industrial gas turbine businesses.

Argus Research analyst Bill Selesky said many customers used aluminum that they had on hand rather than order more, because they were concerned about the global economic environment. He said he has seen similar trends among chemical, steel and copper companies.

Selesky does not expect aluminum demand to pick up until customers feel more comfortable about the economy. He said that could happen around the middle of this year.

For all of 2011 Alcoa reported net income of $611 million, or 55 cents a share, compared with $254 million, or 24 cents per share, in 2010. Revenue rose to $25 billion from $21 billion.

Looking ahead, Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld predicted that cutbacks in aluminum production will create a global deficit in aluminum supplies of about 600,000 metric tons this year. He also forecast that global aluminum demand will increase 7 percent in 2012.

In the coming year the company expects that European sales will remain weak and that high costs for energy and raw materials will continue to drag on earnings. Global aerospace and automotive demand for aluminum is seen staying strong.

While European markets may be weak, Alcoa sees improving demand this year in China, especially for beverage can packaging, automotive and commercial vehicles, and construction.

Alcoa released its earnings after the market closed Monday. Its shares ended the day up 27 cents at $9.43 a share. In the past 52 weeks, the stock has ranged from $8.45 to $18.47 a share.

Alcoa was the first company listed in the Dow Jones industrial average to report fourth-quarter results.

[Associated Press; By SANDY SHORE]

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