Metal manufacturer Alcoa (NYSE: AA), New York, NY, reported sales for 2014 of $23.9 billion, an increase of 4 percent compared to 2013, the strongest full-year operating results since 2008. Alcoa reported a net income of $268 million for the year, compared to a net loss of $2.3 billion in 2013.
For the fourth quarter, sales were 6.4 billion, an increase of 14 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Higher sales in Alcoa’s value-add businesses, comprising the mid and downstream, favorable metal prices and energy sales drove the increase. Alcoa reported a net income of $159 million, compared to a year-ago loss of $2.3 million.
In 2015, Alcoa projects global growth in the aerospace (9 percent to 10 percent), aluminum (7 percent), building and construction (5 percent to 7 percent), automotive (2 percent to 4 percent), packaging (2 percent to 3 percent), and industrial gas turbine (1 percent to 3 percent) markets. Stable commercial transportation production (-1 percent to 3 percent) is also projected.
After a strong 2014, the trucking market in North America is expected to grow 3 to 7 percent.
