Germany's Trimet raises aluminium output slightly

HAMBURG, June 3 (Reuters) - German independent aluminium producer Trimet Aluminium AG is slightly raising aluminium output because of a recovery in demand, the company said on Wednesday. Output at its 170,000 tonne plant in Essen is being raised to over 50 percent of capacity from 45 percent previously, company spokesman Mathias Scheben said. But the company's 130,000 tonne annual primary aluminium production plant in Hamburg continues to operate at about 30 percent under capacity as previously, he said. "We do not see this as a trend reversal, this would be too early," he said. "But we are seeing some demand recovery for specialist alloys." The company produces aluminium for higher-value alloys, not aluminium for London Metal Exchange stocks. Improved demand was especially being seen from automotive industry suppliers and also from construction and packaging, he said. The company in February announced production cuts because of a sharp fall in orders as the economic slowdown hit German industry. In April, Hydro Aluminium, the German unit of Norwegian group Norsk Hydro, also said it may stop production at its loss-making aluminium plant at Neuss in Germany this summer because of low demand and high German electricity costs.