In connection with the sale, the company may record up to $500 million charge.

The global aluminum production during the initial three-month period of the current year fell by nearly 0.4% upon comparison with the year before.

Considering the current inflation rate of 8.3%, the deal would result in real cut in wages, workers noted.

The shipments were up 7% at 3,858 kilotonnes.

The new facility was announced in January, just over two months after Gov. Beshear joined Novelis for the grand opening of the company’s automotive aluminum finishing plant in late October.

The imports of unfairly-traded sheets from these 16 countries had accounted for 62.7% of total U.S. imports in 2019.

The automotive finishing facility currently employs 150 people and Novelis expects to grow to approximately 190 employees over the next two-year period.

The new furnace was built in collaboration with German metals trader MMG Aluminum.