Here we go blast off !!

Primary metals business comes back a big way
Alcoa's primary metals segment has long been a drag on the company's earnings. However, in the latest quarter the commodity business came back to profit in a big way. The segment reported after-tax operating profit of $97 million, compared with a loss of $37 million in the same quarter last year.

Alcoa has been aggressively cutting costs and reducing capacity in its smelting business. Alcoa has either idled or permanently closed unprofitable smelting capacity. The company recently slashed 147,000 metric tons of smelting capacity at its São Luís (Alumar) and Poços de Caldas smelters in Brazil.

Alcoa has also closed or announced closures of plans in Australia and the U.S. Once all announced closures and curtailments are executed, Alcoa will have reduced its operating smelting capacity by 1.2 million metric tons, or 28%, since 2007 . However, the company continues to ramp up production at its joint-venture in Saudi Arabia, which will be the world's lowest-cost smelter complex

Alcoa Inc Firing on All Cylinders ( its our turn next !!!!!!!

Zess !!!!!!!!!