copyright 2009, The Washington Post WASHINGTON -- If you had only one earnings chart to look at to try to understand what the recession has done to world manufacturing, Alcoa's would be a good choice. The world's largest aluminum producer's profits shrank as factories ground to a halt. Alcoa's return to profitability in the third-quarter came from cost-cutting but, more importantly, increased demand from China, factory to the world. The United States is helping, too. September factory capacity hit its highest level in seven months, according to data released Friday. Profit in millions 3rd quarter, 2008: $268 4th quarter, 2008: -$1,191 1st quarter, 2009: -$497 2nd quarter, 2009: -$454 3rd quarter, 2009: $77 