IAI: Dec World Aluminum Stocks Up 103,000 Tons On Month

Total world aluminum inventories in December 2006 rose by 103,000 metric tons to 2.942 million tons, from 2.839 million tons in November, according to figures released Friday by the International Aluminum Institute.

December's figure was down 247,000 tons from the December 2005 production figure of 3.189 million tons.

The IAI details production as follows, in thousands of tons:

(* Denotes a revised figure)

NOTE: The data included in this IAI Statistical Report have been derived exclusively from returns by the primary aluminum producers themselves. These producers may be either Members of the IAI or Official Correspondents, the latter being enterprises possessing, or which have possessed, effective control over primary aluminum production but which are not Members. Official Correspondents are approved by the Board of the Institute.

Neither sources outside the industry nor estimates are used.

Unwrought aluminum is aluminum in its basic cast form made from primary metal or from scrap and which is unworked in the metallurgical sense.

Total aluminum is unwrought aluminum plus unprocessed scrap, metal in process and finished semi-fabricated (mill) products.

Unwrought and total aluminum inventories are all relevant inventories over which primary aluminum producers have some degree of control, with the exception of metal included in LME or COMEX stock reports.

Further clarification can be found in "A Guide to the IPAI Statistical System - Revised Aluminum Inventory Reporting Guidelines" (dated Oct. 28, 1999) which is available from the IAI.