India aluminium demand seen up 4-5 pct y/y - FIMI

MUMBAI, Sept 15 (Reuters) - India's aluminium demand growth is expected to accelerate to 4-5 percent this year from 3 percent last year, helped by the power, auto and construction sectors, a top official at the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) said.

"People are purchasing the metal even at higher prices, which shows demand is there," A.K. Sharma, chairman of the standing committee for non-ferrous minerals and industries at FIMI, said in a phone interview conducted late on Monday.

Indian demand expanded at a healthy rate of 7 to 8 percent in 2007/08 but then slowed down in 2008/09, said Sharma, who is also the director of production at state-run National Aluminium Co Ltd (NALU.BO) (NALCO). (Reporting by Ruchira Singh; Editing by John Mair)