SINGAPORE, Dec. 2 -- Japan's production of flat-rolled aluminum mill products in October rose 4% from September but fell 16% from a year ago to 98,500 metric tons, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

    Inventories of flat-rolled aluminum mill products were down 3% on month and 8% on year at 65,214 tons, according to the data Monday.

    Shipments of flat-rolled products rose 4% from September but fell 13% from last September to 96,155 tons.

    For extruded aluminum products, production rose 8% on month but fell 17% on year to 64,571 tons.

    Inventories of extruded products rose 3% on month and 13% on year to 11,961 tons, while shipments were up 8% on month but down 13% on year at 32,243 tons.

    At 0240 GMT, three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange was at $2,058/ton, up $1 since Monday's kerb.

    (Source: Dow Jones)