And the problem with the aluminium industry is that this is all likely to get worse as well.

FORBES: Rio Tinto's Aluminium Problems: And They're Only Going To Get Worse

Influential tycoons such as Boris Berezovsky, currently gobbling up the country's aluminium industry, may yet find themselves in court or in exile.

ECONOMIST: Russia��s Putin puzzle

Although this has kept Russia's aluminium industry afloat, the finances are dubious.

ECONOMIST: A heavy toll

Composite is the most common form is carbon fibre and is gradually replacing steel and aluminium in industry.

BBC: National Composites Centre in Bristol to expand

Competition concerns have already scuppered one big deal in the industry: the three-way aluminium merger proposed by Alcan, Pechiney and Algroup in 1999.

ECONOMIST: Mining

With its classic black finish, sleek aluminium faceplate, blue LED lights and Pioneer's industry-standard interface, the XDJ-AERO looks professional in any venue.

ENGADGET: Pioneer's new WiFi-enabled XDJ-AERO controller says goodbye wires, hello dancefloor (video)

Later, as Asia's troubles threw this Pacific-coast province into recession, the government launched grand schemes to create forestry jobs, save lumber-mill towns, attract new aluminium smelters, build infrastructure and create a new high-speed ferry industry.

ECONOMIST: Canada

People who make steel and aluminium and advertisers... and everyone who's involved in the larger economic impact of the auto industry believe it is working.

BBC: Ford vehicles at a Michigan plant