TOKYO, Aug. 13 -- Aluminum stockpiles in Japan climbed 3.3 percent in July from the previous month, according to trading company Marubeni Corp.

Inventories held in Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka ports increased to 208,200 metric tons at the end of July from 201,500 tons as of June 30, according to Marubeni, Japan's largest importer of the metal used in cars and houses.

Stockpiles dropped to 169,900 tons in September last year, the lowest level since Marubeni began compiling data in June 1995, after importers slashed the volume of purchases on expectation that demand would weaken amid an economic slump.