Novelis, the US-listed aluminium producer, is reviewing the strategic options for its European technical products business, which include a potential sale. The business consists of three plants in Germany and one plant each in the UK, France and Luxembourg. Russian aluminium company Rusal is rumoured to be interested, and analysts predict that a sale could take place by the end of 2006. A Novelis spokesman has stated that it is too early to speak about divestments at this stage. In 2005, Novelis recorded net sales in Europe of $3.1bn, 37% of the company's total sales.