OSLO – Norsk Hydro, one of the world’s largest producers of aluminium, was battling on today to contain a cyber attack which hit parts of its production, sending its shares lower and aluminium prices higher.

The company shut several metal extrusion plants, which transform aluminium ingots into components for car makers, builders and other industries, while its giant smelters in countries including Norway, Qatar and Brazil were being operated manually. The attack, which began on Monday evening and escalated overnight, affected the company’s IT systems for most of its activities.

“Hydro is working to contain and neutralize the attack, but does not yet know the full extent of the situation,” the company said in a statement. It added that the attack had not affected the safety of its staff and it was too early to assess the impact on customers. News of the attack pushed aluminium prices up 1.2 percent to a three-month high of $1,944 a tonne in early trade on the London Metal Exchange, before giving up some gains to trade at $1,935 by 1148 GMT.(Reuters)…[+]