Russia: Aluminium production rises in the first three months

Russia produced 943,929 metric tons of primary aluminium in January-March of 2007, 2.9% more than in the same period last year, the Aluminy lobby group, which acts on behalf of the Rusal and Sual aluminium groups, said Thursday.

Alumina output during the period increased by 3.9% on the year to 817,076 tons.

Separate figures for output by Rusal and Sual are no longer provided as the two groups are in the process of merging, together with Switzerland-based Glencore AG, into United Company Rusal. The merger will create the world's largest producer of primary aluminium by volume.