Aleris has shut its Lewisport aluminium body sheet mill till May 26, according to local media reports. The company informed its employees about the closure on Tuesday.
Earlier the plant was shut from March 30 to April 19 amid weak demand from automakers and market uncertainty.
The plant is up for sale following a change of ownership at Aleris. Novelis acquired Aleris and as part of the deal, Novelis has to divest from Aleris’ aluminium body sheet plant in North America, as reported by Davis Index. According to the US Department of Justice’s order, Novelis will have to divest some of Aleris’ assets including Lewisport mill to fully preserve competition in the automotive body sheet industry. Till Aleris finds a buyer for the Lewisport plant, it would continue its operation under Aleris.
Aleris’s Belgium plant is also being sold to a third party.