BEIJING, Sept. 9 -- The value-added output of China's nonferrous metal industry rose 17.5% year on year in the first seven months of this year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The industry's value-added output grew 12% in July, said the ministry.

The combined output of the ten nonferrous metals was 18.13 million tons during the period, up 31.9% year on year.

The output of electrolytic aluminum surged 45.6% year on year to 9.74 million tons in the period from January to July and that of refined copper was 2.63 million metric tons, up 16.3% year on year.

Lead output climbed 6.9% to 2.16 million metric tons, and zinc output soared 26.5% to 2.87 million metric tons.