Vimetco’s success is based on a long-term plan to capitalise on the increasing global demand for aluminium by acquiring production facilities in emerging markets and providing them with the development capital and management skills needed to increase productivity and generate sustainable growth. Today, Vimetco is among the top five producers in Europe and among the top ten in China, the world’s largest aluminium market.
Strategy
Vertical integration and value-added aluminium products
Vimetco’s business plan focuses on delivering increased value to its shareholders, customers, employees and the community within which it operates. Its core strengths include its effective vertical integration, expertise in value-added products, favourable geographic spread and its proximity to attractive end-markets. The plan is based on the Group’s ambitious strategy for global expansion – growing its businesses both organically as well as through acquisitions.
The Group realises cost savings and operating efficiencies as well as the security of supply through vertical integration, whether for electricity, anodes, bauxite or alumina. The Group is currently exploring the feasibility of further investing in bauxite mines and in alumina refineries in West Africa. Vimetco operates its own energy plants in China and intends to build generators in Romania. Nevertheless, the management constantly monitors and compares market and thirdparty pricing to assess whether any part of the vertically integrated value chain has ceased to be beneficial to Vimetco’s overall profitability or whether certain aspects can be sourced more effectively elsewhere.
The second strategic angle is Vimetco’s focus on both types of value-added products: