LONDON, June 29 -- World aluminum inventories in May rose 3.1%, or 71,000 metric tons, to 2.339 million tons, from 2.268 million tons in April, according to figures released Monday by the International Aluminum Institute.

May's figure was 6.8% below the May 2009 inventory figure of 2.511 million tons, but it was the highest level since August 2009.