TOKYO -- Japanese output of aluminum mill products declined in July for the first time in 15 months--slipping 0.1 percent. From the same month last year to 211,145 tonnes.

July production of rolled products fell 1.4 percent to 117,134 tonnes--the first year-to-year decline in 16 months--due to a 20-percent decline in exports despite high domestic demand in such sectors as foil, can stock, printing, fins, automotive and wholesale/retail, according to the Japan Aluminium Association. Production of aluminum foil, spurred by increased demand from capacitor manufacturers, climbed 2.6 percent in July--the 16th consecutive monthly increase--to 12,479 tonnes.

July production of extrusions increased 1.5 percent to 94,011 tonnes thanks to continuing strong demand from the semiconductor manufacturing equipment, office automation equipment and automobile industries.

The association said that confirmed figures for the first six months of this year put total output of aluminum mill products at 1,216,880 tonnes, up 3.5 percent from the same 1999 period--the first year-to-year gain in three years.

The six-month total comprised an all-time high of 682,810 tonnes of rolled products, up 2.5 percent in the first increase in two years, and 534,070 tonnes of extruded products, up 4.8 percent, in the first rise in three years. Production of aluminum foil climbed 2.4 percent in the first six months of the year to 73,392 tonnes.