ALCAN INC

Alcan Sells Zinc and Lead Metal Trading Business

Alcan Sells Zinc and Lead Metal Trading Business

MONTREAL, November 16/PRNewswire/ -- Alcan Inc. (NYSE: AL ; TSX: AL) announced today that it has sold the assets of its zinc and lead metal trading business to Trafigura Ltd., an independent commodity trading company.

'Alcan is selling these assets as part of its strategy to exit non-core operations,' said Geoffery E. Merszei, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alcan Inc. The scope of the transaction includes the inventories of Alcan's zinc and lead metal trading and the commercial agreements related to the business, which was operated through Pechiney Trading Limited (UK).

Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging, as well as aluminum recycling. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs 88,000 people and has operating facilities in 58 countries and regions.

Source: Alcan Inc

For further information: Media Contact: Anik Michaud, +1-514-848-8151, anik.michaud@alcan.com; Investor Contact: Corey Copeland,
+1-514-848-8368, corey.copeland@alcan.com; To request a free copy of this organisation's annual report, please go to http://www.newswire.ca and click on reports@cnw.

16 nov 04 17:04