July 18 (Reuters) -Aluminium prices fell to their lowest in more than three months on Thursday, while Shanghai nickel dropped to its lowest in over four months, pressured by rising output in major producing countries.

Three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange CMAL3 was down 0.2% to $2,397.50 per metric ton by 0242 GMT, after hitting its lowest since April 3 at $2,395 earlier in the session.

The most-traded August aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SAFcv1 shed 0.8% to 19,625 yuan ($2,703.39) a ton. The contract had earlier touched its lowest since March 28 at 19,590 yuan.

China's production of primary aluminium in June rose to the highest level since at least 2014, and output in the first half grew 7% as producers ramped up production fuelled by higher profit margins thanks to a recent surge in prices.

LME aluminium surged nearly 30% in three months towards the end of May, when prices reached a two-year high.

The discount of LME cash aluminium to the three-month contract CMAL0-3 was at $58.54 a ton on Wednesday, hovering near the 24-year high of $65.07, suggesting abundant near-term supply.

SHFE aluminium inventories rose to 262,200 tons, the highest since April 2023.

LME copper CMCU3 eased 0.4% to $9,600 a ton, zinc CMZN3 fell 0.5% to $2,832.50, lead CMPB3 edged down 0.3% at $2,184.50, tin CMSN3 declined 0.4% to $32,810 while nickel CMNI3 rose 0.1% to $16,480.

SHFE copper SAFcv1 fell 0.7% to 78,030 yuan a ton, nickel SNIcv1 dropped 2% to 130,120 yuan, zinc SZNcv1 declined 1.7% to 23,545 yuan, tin SSNcv1 shed 2.7% to 265,700 yuan while lead SPBcv1 rose 0.5% to 19,905 yuan.

SHFE nickel earlier in the session touched 129,890 yuan, the lowest since Feb. 21. A surge in output in top producer Indonesia has lead to an over-supplied market.

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($1 = 7.2594 yuan)

Reporting by Mai Nguyen in Hanoi; Editing by Varun H K

 
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