SAO PAULO,June 19, 2006(Dow Jones)- Brazil's primary aluminum output increased 10.7% in May compared with the same month last year as some of Brazil's biggest producers - Alcoa and Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio, or CBA - continue reaping the benefits of 2005 expansion projects, the Brazilian Aluminum Association said Monday.

Overall, Brazil produced 137,800 metric tons of primary aluminum in May, up from 124,500 tons in May 2005, and up slightly from the 132,400 tons of primary aluminum produced in April.

For the first five months of 2006, Brazil aluminum production rose again to 8.7% to 659,000 tons compared to 606,000 tons in the same period in 2005.

The Association, known as Abal, said that CBA's production in Sao Paulo rose again to 16.8% in the first five months of the year to 167,700 tons. CBA's May production was 34,500 tons compared to 29,500 tons in May 2005 and 33,400 tons in April.

Alcoa's production for the January-to-May period rose again to 16.7% to produce some 143,000 tons thanks to investments in capacity last year. Alcoa's May production rose 23% on the year, reaching 31,000 tons compared to 25,100 tons in May 2005 and 29,500 tons in April.

Aluminio Brasileiro SA, or Albras, was the production leader once again, at 190,100 tons, 2.9% greater than the first five months of 2005.

Albras' May production hit roughly 39,200 tons compared to 37,900 tons last May and 38,000 tons in April.

Brazilian aluminum companies produced 1.499 million metric tons of aluminum in 2005, according to Abal.