ABU DHABI: Aluminium Bahrain said its second-quarter output rose 3.1 percent despite challenging market conditions.

The company, which owns one of the largest smelters of the lightweight metal, said second-quarter production stood at 238,904 tons against 231,713 tons in the same 2014 period.

Alba’s sales increased by 2,383 tons over the second quarter of 2014 reaching 232,193 tons, it said in a statement.

Increased output from China has pressured global aluminum prices, forcing major producers including United Company Rusal and Alcoa to idle capacity in an attempt to provide support in the face of a supply glut.

In June, Alba won government approval for a planned $3.5 billion expansion that will boost its output by more than 50 percent.

The company will release its full results on July 29.