• Underlying EBIT NOK 588 million
  
  
• Upstream decline on lower realized aluminium prices, partly offset by Qatalum insurance proceeds
  
  
• Mid and downstream down on higher costs and seasonally lower sales, margins remain firm
  
  
• Energy up on high prices and high production
  
  
• Primary aluminium demand expected to grow 7% in Hydro's main markets in 2011
  
  
• Qatalum aluminium plant ramp-up expected to reach full output from June 2011
  
  
• Closing of Vale deal most likely in first quarter 2011
  
  
• Proposed 2010 dividend NOK 0.75 per share

"2010 was a turn-around year for Hydro, and 2011 will mark the transformation. I expect full Qatalum production from June and expect to close the planned acquisition of Vale's aluminium business in the first quarter, affirming this bold move," Hydro's President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg said.
 
"The aluminium price is currently at a comfortable level. We have seen an increased demand throughout 2010, continuing into 2011, and significant parts of our downstream businesses have solid order books for first half 2011. Still, the fourth quarter result confirms that we need to maintain focus on cost improvements," Brandtzæg said.
 
Underlying results for Primary Metal declined during the quarter mainly due to lower realized aluminium prices, partly offset by insurance proceeds relating to the August 2010 power outage at Qatalum, the joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Hydro. Alumina and Raw Materials' underlying results were stable, supported by firm earnings for alumina commercial activities.
 
Operating losses for Qatalum increased in the fourth quarter, as expected. Ramp-up of the plant restarted in the middle of September. At the end of the fourth quarter, 321 out of 704 cells were fully operational. Final ramp-up to full production capacity will be hampered by delayed commissioning of the power plant steam turbines. Qatalum is expected to reach full production from June 2011.
 
Hydro's mid and downstream operations delivered lower underlying EBIT compared to the third quarter mainly due to higher operating costs, including costs for planned maintenance activities and seasonally lower sales volumes. Margins remained firm. Underlying EBIT for Energy increased substantially compared to the previous quarter, due to higher spot prices and significantly higher power production levels.
 
For the full year 2010, Hydro had underlying EBIT of NOK 3,351 million, compared with underlying losses of NOK 2,555 million in 2009. The sharp improvement was driven by market recovery which lifted prices and strengthened demand, as well as reduced costs and manning. Overall end-market sales volumes increased by 17 percent compared with a decline of 18 percent in the previous year, partly reflecting customer restocking activities. The overall market surplus was reduced throughout the year, but inventories remained at record levels.
 
Underlying results improved substantially for the upstream business during 2010, mainly due to higher realized aluminium prices and improved performance for Hydro's existing alumina and raw materials operations. Focus on reducing operating costs in Hydro's smelter portfolio continued. USD 50 per mt of the USD 300 per mt cost improvement program was achieved by the end of 2010. The full USD 300 program is planned to be achieved by the end of 2013.
 
Underlying EBIT for the midstream business was heavily influenced by negative currency effects in 2009. Downstream business delivered substantially higher underlying results as sales approached pre-crisis levels. Continued focus on cost reduction measures and firm operating margins leveraged the positive market developments and the Rolled Products business achieved record results for the year. Underlying EBIT for the energy business improved in 2010 due to increased spot prices and higher production.
 
Net cash from operating activities amounted to NOK 3.6 billion for the quarter. Investments amounted to NOK 1.6 billion in the quarter including about NOK 0.6 billion relating to Qatalum. Hydro had a net cash position of NOK 11 billion at the end of the quarter.
 
Hydro's Board of Directors proposes to pay a dividend of NOK 0.75 per share for 2010 reflecting the company's strong commitment to provide a cash return to its shareholders. The decision is based on improved earnings and market outlook as well as Hydro's strong financial position and cash generating capabilities. 

See "Fourth quarter report 2010" for footnotes.

About Hydro's reporting

To provide a better understanding of Hydro's underlying performance, the following discussion of operating performance excludes certain items from EBIT (earnings before financial items and tax) and net income. See "Items excluded from underlying EBIT and net income" for more information on these items.

Reported EBIT and net income

Reported EBIT for Hydro amounted to NOK 768 million in the fourth quarter including net positive effects of NOK 180 million. These effects were comprised of net unrealized derivative gains of NOK 132 million, positive metal effects of NOK 92 million, insurance proceeds of NOK 90 million relating to the Qatalum power outage and other net negative effects of NOK 134 million including rationalization and closure costs.
 
In the previous quarter, reported EBIT for Hydro amounted to NOK 274 million including net negative effects of NOK 690 million. These effects were comprised of net unrealized derivative losses of NOK 524 million, negative metal effects of NOK 52 million and impairment charges relating to Qatalum amounting to NOK 114 million.
 
Net income for the fourth quarter amounted to NOK 658 million including net foreign exchange gains of NOK 232 million. In the third quarter Hydro incurred a net loss amounting to NOK 63 million including net foreign exchange losses of NOK 246 million.

Market developments and outlook

Upstream

LME prices continued to increase in the fourth quarter. Average three month prices started the quarter at a level of around USD 2,370 per mt and ended around USD 2,470 per mt. Market volatility continued with prices fluctuating within the range of USD 2,250 - 2,500 per mt in the quarter.
 
Global demand for primary aluminium excluding China increased 4 percent in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter partly due to customer restocking. Annualized consumption and production amounted to 25.3 million mt and 25.7 million mt respectively. Primary aluminium consumption outside China grew 19 percent from 2009. We expect corresponding growth of about 7 percent in 2011 and somewhat slower growth in 2012. The market is expected to be within a manageable surplus in 2011.
 
Production in China declined in the fourth quarter by around 10 percent compared to the previous quarter, assumed to be due to the need to meet energy saving targets. Total production amounted to about 17 million mt for 2010. Demand increased by around 2 percent in the fourth quarter resulting in a decline in inventories.
 
LME stocks were relatively stable around 4.3 million mt during the quarter. Global inventories days have been falling as a result of improved demand.
 
Demand for metal products, in particular extrusion ingot and sheet ingot was strong and unchanged from the previous quarter. Demand for primary foundry alloys improved in Northern Europe, in particular in Germany and was also stronger in export markets in Asia.

Rolled products

Consumption in the European rolled products market was seasonally lower in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter. Demand increased around 17 percent in 2010 compared to 2009, but remained below the peak achieved in 2007. We expect a healthy demand to continue into the first half of 2011.

Extruded products

European demand for extruded aluminium products improved significantly compared to fourth quarter of the previous year, but remained weak within the building and construction sector. In North America demand was seasonally lower compared with the third quarter of 2010, and also lower than the fourth quarter of 2009. Developments in South America continued to be positive, especially in Brazil. Demand for precision tubing remains strong. Overall demand in the European and US extrusion markets is expected to continue to grow into the seasonally stronger first quarter of 2011. Recovery in the building and construction segment is expected to remain slow.

Energy

Nordic electricity spot prices increased during the fourth quarter in parallel with deteriorating hydrological conditions. Water reservoir levels in Norway declined to about 45 percent of full capacity by the end of 2010. Snow accumulation levels were 50 percent below normal. Colder weather beginning in the middle of November lifted spot prices further due to very high demand. Prices declined in January due to milder weather and more stable nuclear output, but reservoir levels remain at historically low levels. Prices are expected to remain fairly high throughout the first quarter of 2011.

Additional factors impacting Hydro

Hydro has sold forward substantially all of its primary aluminium production for the first quarter at a price level of around USD 2,325 per mt, excluding expected Qatalum production.
 
Qatalum is expected to produce roughly 500,000 mt of primary metal in 2011
 
Hydro's water and snow reservoirs were lower than normal at the end of January and also lower than the corresponding period in 2009. Due to the high spot price levels, Hydro's power production during the first quarter of 2011 is expected to be at same level as for fourth quarter 2010.

Primary Metal

Underlying results for Primary Metal declined during the quarter compared to the third quarter mainly due to lower realized aluminium prices partly offset by insurance proceeds relating to the power outage at Qatalum in the previous quarter.
 
Alumina and raw materials underlying results improved slightly in the quarter compared with the third quarter. For Alunorte, positive effects of higher realized alumina prices were partly offset by lower sales, higher bauxite, caustic costs and other operating costs. Underlying earnings for our alumina commercial activities were somewhat higher than the previous quarter driven by higher volumes and good margins on third party sales contracts.
 
Lower realized aluminium prices had a negative effect on underlying results for Primary aluminium amounting to about NOK 350 million in the quarter. Our cost improvement program continued according to plan, however, fourth quarter operating costs were somewhat higher than in the third quarter due to seasonal effects.
 
Operating losses for Qatalum increased in the fourth quarter due to higher depreciation charges and higher fixed costs including costs relating to restart of the ramp up at the plant. Insurance proceeds amounting to NOK 300 million were recorded in the fourth quarter of which NOK 210 million was included in underlying EBIT. Ramp-up of the plant restarted in the middle of September and at the end of the fourth quarter 321 out of 704 cells were fully operational. Final ramp-up to full production capacity will be hampered by delayed commissioning of the power plant steam turbines. It is expected that the plant will reach full output from June 2011.

Metal Markets

Underlying EBIT for Metal Markets declined in the fourth quarter. Currency and ingot inventory valuation effects were relatively neutral in the fourth quarter compared with substantial net positive effects in the previous quarter.
 
Excluding currency and ingot inventory valuation effects, underlying EBIT for Metal Markets also declined in the quarter. Our remelt operations delivered lower underlying results during the quarter mainly due to planned maintenance activities. Lower sales volumes for resale of third party products also had a negative impact on underlying results for the quarter. Underlying results for our metal sourcing and trading activities continued to be firm.
 
Total metal product sales excluding ingot trading was slightly lower mainly due to seasonally lower shipments of extrusion ingots in all markets.

Rolled Products

Underlying EBIT for Rolled Products declined compared to the third quarter of 2010 due to higher operating costs, including costs for planned maintenance activities, and somewhat lower sales volume.
 
Volume developments varied between our different business sectors. Lithography shipments increased together with a good production performance. General engineering sales were stable while automotive, heat exchanger sales were slightly higher supported by continued firm demand. Volumes for our thin gauge foil, beverage can and other packaging and building products declined mainly due to seasonal maintenance and other capacity constraints. Margins remained firm.

Extruded Products

Underlying EBIT for Extruded Products declined compared with the third quarter of 2010 mainly due to higher operating costs and seasonally lower volumes. The cost increases were due to planned maintenance activities and charges for ongoing improvement programs mainly related to rationalization initiatives, the implementation of a new IT system and increased marketing efforts. In the previous quarter, operating costs were positively impacted by seasonally lower employee related costs. Margins were firm for most business sectors in the fourth quarter.
 
Volumes for our European, North American and South American extrusion operations were all seasonally lower in the fourth quarter. Recovery in the building systems markets continued to lag the general extrusion market, in particular in southern Europe, where demand fell in the fourth quarter due to reduced public spending and increased uncertainty concerning economic developments. As a result, we have initiated further rationalization programs to improve the results of this business.

Energy

Underlying EBIT for Energy increased substantially compared to the previous quarter due to higher spot prices and significantly higher production. Cold winter weather, marginal precipitation and outages of nuclear power in Sweden resulted in high spot prices during the period.

Other and eliminations

Underlying EBIT for Other and eliminations amounted to a charge of NOK 277 million for the fourth quarter compared with a charge of NOK 95 million in the previous quarter and a charge of NOK 334 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Eliminations included in underlying EBIT amounted to a charge of NOK 12 million in the fourth quarter compared with a income of NOK 39 million in the previous quarter and a charge of NOK 108 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.
 
Underlying results for the fourth quarter included increased costs for integration planning and other transaction costs relating to the Vale aluminium acquisition, as well as year-end adjustments for employee and pension costs.

Items excluded from underlying EBIT and net income

To provide a better understanding of Hydro's underlying performance, the items in the table below have been excluded from EBIT and net income.
 
Items excluded from underlying EBIT are comprised mainly of unrealized gains and losses on certain derivatives, impairment and rationalization charges, effects of disposals of businesses and operating assets, as well as other items that are of a special nature or are not expected to be incurred on an ongoing basis.
 
Linked to the agreement to acquire the majority of Vale's aluminium businesses in Brazil (Vale Aluminium) it was decided to hedge the majority of the net aluminium price exposure in Vale Aluminium until the end of 2011. The hedges are aimed at mitigating the risk of a weaker aluminium price and will secure a robust cash flow from the acquired assets in the transition phase. The hedges are not conditional upon completion of the transaction. The significant part of the positions expiring after closing of the transaction are subject to hedge accounting and included in other comprehensive income. Recognized unrealized and realized effects of positions not subject to hedge accounting are classified as items excluded from underlying EBIT.

Finance

Financial income amounted to NOK 292 million in the fourth quarter compared with Financial expense of NOK 218 million in the previous quarter.
 
Financial income was relatively unchanged in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter. Interest expense in fourth quarter is lower than previous quarter due to lower interest on tax claims in Germany.
 
The net currency gain in the fourth quarter included gains amounting to NOK 274 million relating to intercompany balances denominated in Euro due to a weaker Euro against the Norwegian kroner.1) Other net currency losses amounted to NOK 42 million.

Tax

Income tax expense amounted to a charge of NOK 401 million in the fourth quarter compared with a charge of NOK 119 million in the previous quarter and a credit of NOK 183 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.
 
For 2010 income tax expense was roughly 43 percent of pre-tax income. The tax rate for the year was influenced by the effects of power sur-tax and results from equity accounted investments which are recognized net of tax.

• Investor contact
  Contact: Stefan Solberg
  Cellular: +47 91727528
  E-mail:   Stefan.Solberg@hydro.com
  
  

• Press contact
  Contact: Halvor Molland
  Cellular: +47 92979797
  E-mail:   Halvor.Molland@hydro.com 

Certain statements included within this announcement contain forward-looking information, including, without limitation, those relating to (a) forecasts, projections and estimates, (b) statements of management’s plans, objectives and strategies for Hydro, such as planned expansions, investments or other projects, (c) targeted production volumes and costs, capacities or rates, start-up costs, cost reductions and profit objectives, (d) various expectations about future developments in Hydro’s markets, particularly prices, supply and demand and competition, (e) results of operations, (f) margins, (g) growth rates, (h) risk management, as well as (i) statements preceded by “expected”, “scheduled”, “targeted”, “planned”, “proposed”, “intended” or similar statements.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and forecasts that, by their nature, involve risk and uncertainty.  Various factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in a forward-looking statement or affect the extent to which a particular projection is realized.  Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: our continued ability to reposition and restructure our upstream and downstream aluminium business; changes in availability and cost of energy and raw materials; global supply and demand for aluminium and aluminium products; world economic growth, including rates of inflation and industrial production; changes in the relative value of currencies and the value of commodity contracts; trends in Hydro’s key markets and competition; and legislative, regulatory and political factors.

No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct.  Hydro disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.