PIETERMARITZBURG-based aluminium manufacturing specialist Hulamin caused a stir last year after it bagged an exclusive contract to supply Tesla with a key component to power its electric vehicles.Investors, sensing a game-changing development, initially had dollar signs in their eyes. But the company’s reluctance to disclose details of the deal with Tesla’s Elon Musk has left some investors fretting. Some even questioned whether the contract might be an operational burden.Recently management said it had secured a new three-year supply arrangement with Tesla, running from this year. But the deal remains shrouded in mystery as the company was unable to disclose details such as the value of the contract or long-term earnings that could flow from Tesla. This reticence is due to Tesla’s request for confidentiality.But Hulamin did say it expected export volumes to at least double as sales of the electric car accelerated."Though the business is less than 5% of turnover, the product we deve...
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