SAO PAULO, July 21 -- Brazilian primary aluminum production grew to 126,600 metric tons in June, up 0.8% over the same month a year earlier, the Brazilian Aluminum Producers Association, or Abal, said Tuesday.

In the first six months of the year, however, output of the primary metal used in construction and packaging fell 1.1% to 769,600 tons, Abal said in an email release.

Brazil's top producer for the first half was Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio, with 235,200 tons produced, up 0.7% on the year. In the meantime, Aluminio Brasileiro SA, or Albras, made 221,600 tons of aluminum in the period, down 2.2%.

U.S. producer Alcoa Inc. (AA) produced a total of 172,000 tons at its two plants in Maranhao and Minas Gerais states, up 5.9% from the first half of 2009.