LONDON, Oct 19, 2011 (Dow Jones) -- The global aluminum market was in surplus by 552,700 metric tons in the first eight months of the year, the World Bureau of Metal Statistics said Wednesday.

This compares with a surplus of 659,500 tons in the same period a year before.

Demand for primary aluminum in the first eight months of 2011 was 28.38 million tons, 1.397 million tons more than in the same period the previous year.

Production in January to August rose by 1.290 million tons following a 3.97 million ton increase over the whole of 2010. The WBMS did not provide a production figure for the year-earlier period.