UPDATE 1-China January-February aluminium output rises 2.6% to 7.32 million tons

(Adds details and background from fourth paragraph) SHANGHAI, March 17 (Reuters) - China's aluminium production rose by 2.6% to 7.32 million metric tons in January and February from a year earlier, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. Production of ten nonferrous metals - including copper, aluminium, lead, zinc and nickel – rose 1.4% to 12.94 million metric tons for the first two months this year from a year earlier. The other non-ferrous metals are tin, antimony, mercury, magnesium and titanium. China publishes data for January and February in a combined release to smooth out the effects of the Lunar New Year, which can fall in either month. The higher year-on-year output was attributed to improved profitability for aluminium smelters in China. Profitability improved at aluminium smelters in February, largely as a result of easing alumina supply constraints and subsequent declines in alumina prices, according to China's state-backed research company Antaike. Alumina is the primary raw material used to produce aluminium. The most active alumina contract SAOc1 on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell over the first two months this year, ending at 3,363 yuan ($464.81) a metric ton on February 28, a 28% decline from a close of 4,700 yuan a ton on January 2. ($1 = 7.2352 yuan) (Reporting by Violet Li and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Tom Hogue) ((Violet.Li@thomsonreuters.com;))