LONDON, Sep 21, 2011 (Dow Jones) -- The global aluminum market was in surplus by 373,100 metric tons in the first seven months of the year, the World Bureau of Metal Statistics said Wednesday.

This compares with a surplus of 562,800 tons in the same period a year before.

Demand for primary aluminum in the first seven months of 2011 was 24.62 million tons, 959,000 tons more than in the same period the previous year.

Production in January to July rose by 770,000 tons following a 3.9 million ton increase over the whole of 2010. The WBMS did not provide a production figure for the year-earlier period.