Alcoa asks for officials' help with competitor

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Alcoa, the world's largest aluminum maker, is asking federal authorities to stop alleged dumping of aluminum by a South African company.
Pittsburgh-based Alcoa petitioned the Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission seeking intervention to stop alleged dumping of 6000 series aluminum alloy rolled plate by Hulett Aluminum Ltd.
Alcoa said the aluminum, mainly used in the automotive and aerospace industries, is being sold in U.S. markets at costs dramatically below production costs and market price.
"Alcoa has generally not filed trade remedy cases; however, Hulett's dumping in the U.S. market has been so blatantly unfair it demands a response," said Paul Thomas, president of Alcoa's North American Fabricated Products.
According to Alcoa, Hulett began dumping the cheap aluminum in the U.S. market three years ago. Over the past year, the price of aluminum alloy rolled plate has tumbled from about $4,000 a ton to about $3,000 a ton, Alcoa spokesman Kevin Lowery said.
Alcoa, which called for antidumping duties, declined to say how much the alleged dumping has affected its business.