RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 11 -- Brazilian output of primary aluminum rose to 130,600 metric tons in July, 1% higher than the same month a year ago, Brazil's Aluminum Association, or Abal, said Tuesday.

In the January-July period, output fell 0.8% to 891,800 tons, Abal said.

Output grew 28.4% during the 7-month period at Alcoa Aluminum's (AA) smelter in Pocos de Caldas, Minas Gerais state, which was reduced during last year's economic crisis. Output also grew at Votorantim Group's Sao Paulo smelter and fell at most other smelters during the period, Abal said.