» Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd (Chinalco) said its 2008 net profit fell 99 percent from a year earlier, worse than the market expectation.

» Chinalco reported 76.7 billion yuan in 2008 revenue, with net profits of 9 million yuan.

» The company blamed the profit decline to natural disasters and the global financial turmoil, as well as rising material prices.

» The company said it expected to swing to a net loss in the first quarter of 2009 due to the worsening market.