Global aluminium market remained in deficit from Jan to May 2007 - WBMS

The global primary aluminium market recorded a surplus of 54,900 tonnes in May but remained in a deficit of 35,000 tonnes in the first five months of the year amid still strong demand, according to the World Bureau of Metal Statistics. The WBMS said while demand for primary aluminium from January through to May rose to almost 15.30 mln tonnes, production during the period grew to only 15.23 mln tonnes. This was as a fall in production in the EU countries offset strong output growth in countries of the North American Free Trade Agreement and in China, which now accounts for almost 32 pct of global production. Meanwhile on the demand side, the WBMS noted that consumption in the EU is still strong, having risen just under 9 pct in the first five months of the year. Turning to stocks, the bureau said aluminium inventories increased in May to stand at 2.81 mln tonnes, but noted its data does not take into account unreported stock changes.