A WAREHOUSE STAFF CHECKS PILES OF ALUMINIUM INGOTS IN YOKOHAMA, 1998-07-05 (photo)

A warehouse manager checks piles of unsold aluminium ingots at Honmoku pier in Yokohama. Aluminium inventories are swelling on slumping demand due to the country's ailing economy, traders said. Japan's aluminium stocks in Yokohama have climbed to about 320,000 tonnes and there has been some trouble to find space to put refined aluminium as stocks are full, a warehouse official said. The mounting stocks of aluminium at Japanese ports are a symptom of Japan's first recession in 23 years as consumption of consumer goods slumps. Picture taken July 3. TA/TAN/JO/SB