DJ Japan Mar Flat-Rolled Aluminum Pdt Stocks Down 8% On Month

SINGAPORE, May 04, 2009 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) -- Japan's inventories of flat-rolled aluminum mill products fell 8% from the previous month and 4.8% from a year earlier to 68,969 metric tons in March, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Output of flat-rolled aluminum mill products rose 9.6% on month but fell 39.1% on year to 72,587 tons, the data showed. Shipments of flat-rolled products in March rose 17.7% on month but were down 32.4% on year to 77,134 tons. For extruded products, inventories fell 2.1% on month and 4.2% on year to 9,927 tons. Output of extruded products was down 1.4% on month and 39.1% on year at 45,285 tons. Shipments of extruded products fell 4.7% on month and 49% on year to 19,724 tons.