KALU Kaiser Aluminum Corporation

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (Nasdaq:KALU) today announced plans to further expand heat treat plate capacity at its Trentwood rolling mill in Spokane, Washington. The investment of approximately $21 million to debottleneck various processing centers is expected to increase the rolling mill's heat treat plate capacity approximately 5% as it comes on stream during 2013.

"This additional plate capacity demonstrates our commitment as a strategic supplier to our major commercial aircraft manufacturing and service center customers," said Jack A Hockema, President, CEO and Chairman. "The three-phase plate expansion completed in late 2008 broadened our capabilities and more than doubled our heat treat plate production capacity. These debottlenecking plans, enabled by our dedicated and supportive workforce, leverage our strong manufacturing platform at Trentwood to further increase plate capacity in anticipation of exceptionally strong aerospace build rates in the coming years," concluded Mr. Hockema.

Company Description

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, headquartered in Foothill Ranch, Calif., is a leading producer of semi-fabricated specialty aluminum products, serving customers worldwide with highly-engineered solutions for aerospace and high-strength, general engineering, and custom automotive and industrial applications. The Company's North American facilities produce value-added sheet, plate, extrusions, rod, bar, tube and wire products, adhering to traditions of quality, innovation and service that have been key components of our culture since the Company was founded in 1946. The Company's stock is included in the Russell 2000® index and the S&P SmallCap 600® index.

The Kaiser Aluminum Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6081

Available Information

For more information, please visit the Company's web site at www.kaiseraluminum.com. The web site includes a section for investor relations under which the Company provides notifications of news or announcements regarding its financial performance, including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, investor events, and earnings and other press releases. In addition, all Company filings submitted to the SEC are available through a link to the section of the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov which includes: Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and Proxy Statements for the Company's annual stockholders' meetings and other information statements as filed with the SEC. In addition, the Company provides a webcast of its quarterly earnings calls and certain events in which management participates or hosts with members of the investment community.

This press release contains statements based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied. Kaiser Aluminum cautions that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual events may vary materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These factors include: (a) the effectiveness of management's strategies and decisions; (b) adverse changes in the anticipated future demand for heat treat plate, including material adverse changes in the commercial aerospace industry and anticipated build rates; (c) the Company's ability to complete the contemplated project as planned; and (d) other risk factors summarized in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact:
         Melinda C. Ellsworth
         Kaiser Aluminum
         (949) 614-1757
         
         Public Relations Contact:
         Dave Quast
         Financial Dynamics
         (646) 421-5341