text: Japan aluminium shipments surge 8.9 pct in July . TOKYO 1996-08-27 Japanese shipments of aluminium mill products in July surged 8.9 percent over the same month last year to 224,609 tonnes , while production rose 6.4 percent to 222,457 tonnes , according to preliminary data released on Tuesday by the Japan Aluminium Federation . The surge reflected strong demand from the beverage can and housing construction sectors , federation officials said . Figures released two weeks ago from Japan 's seven largest mills already showed that Japan 's can sheet output reached its highest monthly level ever in July , reflecting above-average temperatures that sparked a jump in beer consumption . A federation official added that the half-year through September 1996 also appeared likely to set a new record for can production , despite cooler temperatures in August . July inventories stood at 75,632 tonnes , down 2.6 percent from the prior month . July foil output was off 0.2 percent year-on-year at 11,525 tonnes , while foil shipments fell 0.8 percent to 11,244 tonnes . June mill output data were revised slightly downward to 210,622 tonnes from the preliminary 210,683 , while shipments were revised marginally upward to 213,989 tonnes from 213,845 . Final figures for June pegged can stock shipments at 40,144 tonnes , up 2.4 percent year-on-year . Shipments to the auto sector fell 5.5 percent to 15,286 tonnes , while the construction sector rose 2.4 percent to 79,390 tonnes . Exports dipped 3.7 percent to 18,867 tonnes . -- Tokyo Commodities Desk ( 81-3 3432 6179 )