Japan Electronic Materials Output Increases in April

Japanese electronic materials output increased by 7% to 35.93 billion yen in April from a year earlier, according to Japan Electronics & Technology Industries Association. Permanent magnet production was firm. Output of semiconductive ceramics and dielectric ceramics represented steady growth as well.Permanent magnet production increased by 15% year-on-year in April. Especially rare earth magnets, including neodymium-iron-boron magnets, increased by 19% to 8.5 billion yen. The total output during January-April showed 13% higher output compared with the corresponding period of 2007. A Japanese source said domestic production of permanent magnet maintains steady.The production of semiconductive ceramics increased by 1% year-on-year in April. Thermistors increased by 2% while varistors decreased by 2%. The production of dielectric ceramics increased by 10%. A source of Japanese electronic parts maker said the current output of low grade parts is gradually leveling off.