News and press releases

Stock exchange announcement
June 30, 2008

Hydro continues cooperation with Save the Children

A new cooperation agreement with the Norwegian branch of Save the Children continues Hydro’s position as one of the most important supporters of the children’s rights organization.

June 30, 2008

Hydro's train film wins in Cannes

Hydro's train film went all the way to the top Saturday night during Cannes Lions 2008 International Advertising Festival. The film was awarded "Silver Lion", the top award in the category "Corporate" - considered to be a tough and prestigious category.

June 9, 2008

Sweet sound of aluminum

The good vibrations of Marimba One and Hydro: Making beautiful music together.

May 23, 2008

More awards for train film

Hydro recruiting film wins Clio.

May 9, 2008

Winning Hydro entry in 'Alufoil Trophy 2008'

Hydro’s aluminium customer ProTechT Solutions was among the winners of this years’ Alufoil Trophy, presented by The European Aluminium Foil Association.

April 22, 2008
April 18, 2008

Hydro invests in Taiwan remelt plant

Hydro has signed an agreement to acquire 45% ownership in Famco, a remelt plant, under construction, in Taiwan. Famco will have an initial annual production of about 75,000 tons of extrusion ingot.

April 18, 2008

Hydro expands extrusion activity with acquisition in Spain

Hydro has moved to the top level of the extrusion business in Spain following its acquisition of Expral s.a., a privately owned operation located near Madrid. The plant has two extrusion presses, more than 90 employees, and annual turnover of about €34 million. Further, the company is well established locally, having celebrated its 20th year of operations in 2007

March 10, 2008

Hydro aiding children in Tajikistan

Hydro is funding USD 150,000 of UNICEF’s aid program in Tajikistan. The money will be spent on helping the local population, especially children and mothers, survive the extreme winter conditions with severe sub-zero temperatures.

Feb 29, 2008

International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition nears

The deadline for the ET Foundation’s International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition is March 28, 2008.

Feb 25, 2008

Nevada Solar One dedicated

Nevada Solar One, the world's largest concentrating solar power plant to be built in 17 years, was dedicated on Friday, February 22, 2008, just outside Las Vegas

Feb 19, 2008

Strong 2007, Q4 hit by lower prices and weaker markets

 

Key Financial information

NOK million, except per share data

Fourth quarter 2007

Third quarter 2007

% change prior quarter

Fourth quarter 2006

% change prior year

Year
2007

Year
2006

Revenue 21,651 21,966 -1% 23,234 -7% 94,316 98,752
               
EBIT 338 2,013 -83% (664) 151% 9,025 7,200
Items excluded 1,393 494   2,899   905 2,965
Underlying EBIT 1,731 2,507 -31% 2,235 -23% 9,930 10,165
               
Underlying EBIT              
Aluminium Metal 1,364 1,945 -30% 1,755 -22% 8,041 8,127
Aluminium Products 74 288 -74% 260 -71% 1,353 1,294
Energy 341 207 65% 294 16% 1,184 1,464
Corporate and other (49) 67 -174% (75) 34% (648) (721)
Underlying EBIT 1,731 2,507 -31% 2,235 -23% 9,930 10,165
               
Income from continuing operations 527 2,792 -81% 324 63% 9,158 5,966
               
Underlying income from continuing operations 1,425 1,981 -28% 1,960 -27% 7,847 7,811
               
Earnings per share from continuing operations 1) 0.40 2.20 -82% 0.30 33% 7.20 4.60
               
Underlying earnings per share from continuing operations 1) 1.10 1.50 -27% 1.60 -31% 6.10 6.10
               
Financial data:              
Investments 2,173 1,305 67% 1,855 17% 5,206 4,526
Adjusted net debt (net cash) 2)           (0.05) 0.10
1) Earnings per share from continuing operations and Underlying earnings per share from continuing operations are computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding. There were no diluting elements.
2) Net interest-bearing debt adjusted for pension obligation (after tax) and present value of future obligations on operating leases


Oct 30, 2007

NEW Hydro Q3 results

Income lifted by currency gains, EBIT weaker

Feb 19, 2007

Preliminary results 2006: Record results, Q4 hit by write-downs

Hydro achieved record results for 2006, despite a weak fourth quarter due to asset write-downs and other special items. Continued high oil and gas prices, aluminum prices at historic levels and solid operational performance contributed to the annual result, providing a strong foundation for Hydro going forward.

Feb 12, 2007

Contest deadline extended! Enter now!

Hydro & ET Foundation Invite Student Entries for 2007 Design Competition: Students from around the globe will compete for recognition and money at the 2007 International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition. Deadline for entries has been extened to February 23.

Jan 25, 2007

Hydro maintains leading role in automotive bumper beams market

Hydro has increased its share of the global market for automotive crash management systems. Product development capacity and complete value-chain management are two reasons why.

Jan 22, 2007

Environmental benefits in Hydro brazing technology

Hydro's new aluminum coating process is simplifying the brazing of heat exchangers for automotive applications, and achieving significant environmental benefits at the same time.

Jan 11, 2007

Focus on Rolled Products, Extrusion and Building Systems

Hydro will build on its leading position in Europe in rolled products, extruded aluminum and building systems. Along with increased production of aluminum and alumina - the raw material for making aluminum - this will be the main foundation for realizing the global ambitions of this focused aluminum company.

Jan 4, 2007

Stepping up global aluminum business development

Hydro is working on an extensive number of projects globally to expand its aluminum metal business. A top priority for Hydro's Aluminum Metal sector in 2007 is delivering new profitable bauxite, alumina and smelter opportunities.

Dec 18, 2006

Oil and gas activities to merge with Statoil

The Board of Directors of Hydro and Statoil have agreed to recommend to their shareholders a merger of Hydro's oil and gas activities with Statoil, creating the worlds largest offshore operator with a strengthened platform for future growth.

Dec 6, 2006

Capital Markets Day: The annual meeting point

A number of invited analysts and journalists met with President and CEO Eivind Reiten and members of Hydro's corporate management on Wednesday to be briefed on the company's operational and strategic situation.

Nov 29, 2006

Hydro Names Rhonda Wright Vice President Business Controller for Metals

Hydro has appointed Rhonda Wright as Vice President, Business Controller for its North American Aluminum Metal business unit. Wright has been with the company for seven years in various management roles. In this new position, she will be responsible for the financial and accounting functions of the business unit while developing and promoting further improvements within the organization.

Nov 13, 2006

Hydro & ET Foundation Invite Student Entries for 2007 Design Competition

Students from around the globe will compete for recognition and money at the 2007 International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition. Deadline for entries is February 12.

Oct 24, 2006

Strong third quarter for Hydro

Hydro's net income for the third quarter of 2006 was NOK 4,804 million (NOK 3.90 per share), up from NOK 4,183 million (NOK 3.30 per share) in the third quarter of 2005.

Oct 13, 2006

Hydro Aluminum has recently made some key staff appoints

Hydro Aluminum has recently made some key staff appoints to its Ellenville, New York and St. Augustine, Florida Extruded Products Opertions:

Sep 19, 2006

Hydro tops Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Hydro has been named supersector leader in the Basic Materials sector of the 2006 Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which includes the aluminium sector.

Aug 23, 2006

Increased ownership in Slovalco to 55 percent

Hydro has acquired a majority position in the Slovakian aluminum company Slovalco. The investment confirms the long-standing relations between Hydro and Slovalco and the important role Slovalco plays for Hydro.

Aug 15, 2006

Leaner organization in Aluminum Products

Hydro is restructuring its Aluminum Products business area to support the new strategy and make it more flexible and market driven.

July 25, 2006

Strong second quarter from Hydro

Hydro's net income for the second quarter of 2006 amounted to NOK 5,394 million (NOK 4.30 per share), compared with NOK 3,577 million (NOK 2.90 per share) in the second quarter of 2005.

June 1, 2006

Hydro to sell Ellenville extrusion operations

Hydro announced today plans to divest its extrusion plant in Ellenville, N.Y., which produces drawn aluminum tubing used in the construction, consumer durables and other industries. Hydro has 360 employees in Ellenville, including those at the adjacent casthouse.

April 28, 2006

First quarter 2006: Another record result

Hydro's net income for the first quarter of 2006 amounted to NOK 5,869 million. Per share the result was NOK 23.50. "Hydro is enjoying record prices for both our energy and aluminum operations," says President and CEO Eivind Reiten.

April 7, 2006

Martin Carter addresses AEC

Martin Carter, President of Extrusion North America, was the industry keynote speaker at the Aluminum Extrusion Councils recent Annual Meeting.

April 7, 2006

Hydro at SAE

This week the business units most active in serving the North America transportation market joined to showcase Hydros capabilities at the SAE 2006 World Congress in Detroit. Hydro joined top suppliers like Behr, Motorola, Lear, and Webasto in SAEs Supplier Village along with OEMs GM, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Toyota and Congress sponsor BMW.

March 24, 2006

Qatar Petroleum and Hydro sign joint venture agreement for world-class aluminum plant

Qatar Petroleum and Hydro have signed an agreement to form a joint venture for the development, construction and operation of a world-class aluminum plant in Qatar. The agreement marks an important step forward to build one of the worlds largest and most competitive primary aluminum plants.

Jan 18, 2006

Hydro Aluminum Releases Updated Extrusion Design Manual

 (Baltimore, MD - January 18, 2006) Hydro Aluminum has launched a revised and updated North American edition of its Extrusion Design Manual, a practical engineering and application guide to aluminum extrusions. This unique publication gives designers, engineers and product developers the technical guidelines they need to develop new uses for extruded aluminum.

Jan 10, 2006

Hydro Aluminum & ET Foundation Invite Entries for 2006 Design Competition

Baltimore, MD) Professionals and students from around the globe will compete for recognition - and money - at the 2006 International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition. Deadline for entries is February 17, with winners announced in late March 2006 at the Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference of the Aluminum Extruders Council.

Dec 22, 2005

Hydro to continue operation of Hamburg aluminum casthouse

Hydro will take full ownership of the casthouse at Hamburger Aluminium-Werk (HAW). Today, the company signed a contract with representatives of the other HAW co-owners, Alcoa and AMAG, valid as of 1st January 2006.

Dec 20, 2005

Hydro strengthens aluminum position through Czech acquisition

Today Hydro agreed to acquire the business of Alulift, a Czech company offering aluminum fabricated products to the Czech and eastern European markets. Alulift adds value to aluminum extrusions through mechanical fabrication, specializing in robot welding and CNC milling. It also has a niche market in ready-made radar antennae.

Nov 8, 2005

New Head of Hydro Magnesium

Derrick Webb has been named as Head of Hydro Magnesium, part of Hydro Aluminum Automotive, effective November 15th 2005.

Nov 5, 2005

Hydro to participate in Alunorte alumina expansion

Hydro will participate in the investment to increase alumina capacity at the highly competitive Alunorte refinery in Brazil. The expansion will raise annual capacity by more than 40 percent to approximately 14.3 billion pounds, making the refinery the largest and most modern in the world.

Oct 25, 2005

Third quarter 2005: Best quarterly results ever

Hydro's income from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2005 amounted to NOK 4,183 million (NOK 16.60 per share), compared to NOK 2,480 million (NOK 9.80 per share) for the third quarter of 2004. "Hydro's third-quarter results are the company's best quarterly results ever," says President and CEO Eivind Reiten.

Sep 27, 2005
July 20, 2005

Hydro Aluminum's Metal Products Unit Names Sanna Frew, Vice President of Operations, Metal

 (Baltimore, MD - July 18, 2005) Sanna Frew joins Hydro Aluminum's North America Metal Products organization as the new Vice President of Operations. In her role, Frew will have bottom line responsibilities for all six North American casthouses. She will be focusing on safety initiatives and production efficiencies and will report directly to Ketil Heggestad, Senior Vice President, Metal Products.

July 19, 2005

Hydro to expand casting capacity in Sunndal

To support its continuing growth in North America, Hydro AluminumMetal Products has made the following organizational appointments:

July 11, 2005

New appointments to better support the Metal Products organization

To support its continuing growth in North America, Hydro AluminumMetal Products has made the following organizational appointments:

July 11, 2005

Visteon honors Hydro as "Best in Class"

Hydro Aluminium's precision tubing plant in Tønder, Denmark, has been named as a Visteon Important Partner exemplifying "Best in Class" performance, going above-and-beyond to meet Visteon's needs and expectations.

Dec 20, 2004

Hydro to organize Aluminium business area for global growth

Oslo, December 20: Hydro will streamline its aluminium organization to better support its global growth ambitions in the aluminium industry.

Dec 5, 2004

Plans for world-class aluminium project in Qatar

Hydro and Qatar Petroleum have signed an agreement to develop one of the world's largest aluminium plants in Qatar. Planned capacity will be 570,000 tonnes of primary aluminium in the first phase. Total project costs are estimated to USD 3 billion. Hydro's share of the investment will be around USD 1.5 billion.

Dec 1, 2004

New Architectural Sales Manager to Expand Patio Doors Market

Edward Woods has joined Hydro Aluminum North America as Architectural Sales Manager. He will head up sales and marketing for Hydros patio door program at the companys Cassville, Missouri facility, where the doors are manufactured.

Sep 17, 2004

Recognition for sustainability

Hydro has again this year been included in the FTSE4Good index of companies.