Japan Aluminum Shipments Increase for Fourth Month in March

April 28 (Bloomberg) -- Japan's shipments of aluminum rolled products expanded 50 percent in March, marking the fourth straight month of increase, as the economic recovery boosted demand for the metal used in cars and buildings.

Supplies to the domestic and export markets rose to 186,714 metric tons from 124,248 tons a year earlier, the Japan Aluminium Association said in a statement today.

Shipments increased as the global economic recovery boosted sales of Japanese vehicles and electric appliances, leading to higher metal consumption by manufacturers. Japan's exports advanced 43.5 percent in March from a year earlier, led by accelerating growth in emerging Asian markets, data from the Finance Ministry has showed.