Venezuela's CVG-Alcasa primary aluminum production for July totaled 3,954 metric tons in July, down 22% from output of 5,082 mt in July 2012 and 1% below output of 3,996 mt for June, the company said Thursday. 

 

Alcasa is operating at about 35% of installed capacity, and efforts to raise production through a $430 million joint venture with Aluminum Corporation of China subsidiary Chalieco have yet to bear tangible results. 

 

Alcasa earlier stated that it hoped to raise output to 120,000 mt by the end of 2013. 

 

 

The 170,000 mt/year Alcasa smelter produced just 55,195 mt of primary aluminum in 2012. 

 

Alcasa's July sales totaled 9,890 mt in July, up 114% on sales of 4,622 mt in July 2012, but down 25% on June sales of 13,125 mt. 

 

"The upsurge in sales the last few months does not mean that we are exporting again," said an Alcasa spokeswoman. "These are sales to local downstream companies taken out of inventory." 

 

Alcasa forms part of the Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana's 600,000 mt/year primary aluminum complex in Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar state.