Japan May Flat-Rolled Aluminum Output Down 2% On Month -METI

SINGAPORE, June 30 -- Japan's production of flat-rolled aluminum mill products in May fell 2% from April, but was up 23% from a year earlier, at 111,161 metric tons, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released Wednesday.

Inventories of flat-rolled aluminum mill products rose 7% on month but were flat on year at 68,964 tons.

Shipments of flat-rolled products fell 6% from April but were up 19% on year, at 103,497 tons.

For extruded aluminum products, production fell 7% on month, but was up 18% on year at 57,387 tons.

Inventories of extruded products fell 3% on month but were up 7% on year at 10,997 tons, while shipments fell 6% on month but were up 40% on year at 30,273 tons.

At 0245 GMT, three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange was trading at $1,950/ton, up $4 from Tuesday's kerb.