Japan Rolled Copper Output Hits 31-Year Low in December

Japanese rolled copper production decreased by 30.4% to 57,800 tonnes in December from a year earlier hitting the lowest monthly output after 54,684 tonnes since August 1977, announced by Japan Copper and Brass Association on Friday. The drop was the widest in 30 years since the Oil Shock. The major consuming sectors’ activity is very slow. The production decreased by 5.9% to 944,558 tonnes in 2008 from 2007 hitting the lowest annual production since 1984, when the output hit the first 1 million tonnes.

The association warns the demand condition is worse in January-March than December indicating the production for the year to March could be as low as 850,000 tonnes.

The production decreased by 41.9% to 13,280 tonnes for copper strip in December from a year earlier hitting the lowest level after 13,247 tonnes in May 1992. The production for export dropped by 65.5% to 2,080 tonnes while the output for domestic market decreased by 33.4% to 11,200 tonnes.

The production decreased by 55.9% to 2,184 tonnes for phosphor bronze strip and flat products in December from a year earlier. The brass bar output decreased by 22% to 14,631 tonnes. The copper tube output decreased by 11% to 11,440 tonnes.