Alunorte, Albras export revenues up in Q1: Brazil

Brazilian alumina company Alunorte and compatriot aluminum producer Albras saw their individual export revenues expand in the first quarter of 2007 compared to same-period 2006.

Alunorte's exports brought in US$283mn in January-March 2007, up 87% from US$151mn in the first three months of 2006, Brazil's foreign trade ministry (Secex) reported without providing volume figures.

Shipments abroad at Albras inched up 0.2% in value to US$271mn in 1Q07 versus US$270mn year-over-year.

Brazilian mining and metals group CVRD (NYSE: RIO) owns 51% of Albras and Japanese investors the rest. CVRD owns 57% of Alunorte while Norway's Norsk Hydro (NYSE: NHY) owns 34%. Private Japanese and Brazilian companies hold the balance.