KOLKATA: The National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has posted a 69.3% jump in net profit in the first quarter of FY15 (April-June) compared to the same period last year, riding on higher aluminum prices during the quarter.

Nalco’s net touched Rs 271 crore during the period under review as against Rs 160 crore in Q1 of FY14, with the company’s aluminium business turning in profits after a gap of two years.

Global aluminium prices which have crossed $2,000 per tonne from a low of $1,693 in February 2014.

The company’s financial results were revealed by the board of directors at a meeting held in New Delhi on Wednesday.

On the production front, during the quarter the quanta of bauxite, alumina and aluminium production were 14.04 lakh tonne, 4.076 lakh tonne and 79,240 tonne, respectively.

Nalco said that despite lower production levels, the company has been able to post higher profits due to improved specific consumption of coal, caustic soda, etc.

The total alumina sale during the quarter was 3.15 lakh tonne, primarily in exports. Aluminium sales were about 77,400 tonne, both in the domestic and overseas markets.