Sumitomo Corporation to Participate in 3rd Phase of Aluminium Smelters in Malaysia

Sumitomo Corporation (“SC”) (President and CEO: Kuniharu Nakamura; Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and Press Metal Berhad (“PMB”) (President and CEO: Dato’ Poh Keong Koon; Head Office: Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia), the leading aluminium smelting and extrusion company in Malaysia, will expand their aluminium smelting capacity by 320,000 metric ton per year (“Phase 3”) through their joint venture company, Press Metal Bintulu Sdn. Bhd. (President and CEO: Dato’ Poh Keong Koon; Head Office: Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

As SC already participates 20% in the 1st and 2nd phases of the aluminium smelting project in Malaysia (annual production capacities of which are 120,000 metric ton and 320,000 metric ton respectively) (“Phase 1” and “Phase 2” respectively), it will hold a 20% equity in the Malaysian aluminium smelting project with the total annual production capacity of 760,000 metric ton after completion of the Phase 3.

SC holds equity interests in aluminium smelters in Malaysia, Australia and Brazil and deals with primary aluminium metals widely in Japan and other Asian markets.  SC places this relationship with PMB through Phase 1 – 3 at the core of its long-term strategy in the aluminium industry and will expand business especially in the Asian markets where demand for aluminium is expected to increase further.