Japan Nonferrous Industry Expands Production Cut

Kobe Steel’s aluminium and copper unit will reduce the rolled copper production by maximum 70% in January-March compared with original plan. The unit prepares for job cut for contractors to adjust the operation to slow demand when the automobile production drops sharply at home and abroad. Sumitomo Metal Mining announced on Monday the firm reduces the nickel production by 24% for ferronickel and by 17% for electrolytic nickel in second half year to March 2009 from original plan.

Kobe Steel’s copper alloy flat and strip production decreases to around 2,000 tonnes per month from original plan of around 6,000 tonnes for the second half year to March 2009. The unit expanded the production cut while the unit planned around 5% cut as of October.

The unit originally planned around 15% job cut by fiscal 2011 ending March 2012. However, the unit decided the earlier implementation. The unit is cutting job mainly for contractors and plans to reduce around 300 job including aluminium business.

Sumitomo Metal Mining revised the production plan to 15,000 tonnes for electrolytic nickel and to 8,300 tonnes for ferronickel in the second half year. The firm also revised the production plan to 201,000 tonnes for electrolytic copper and to 35,700 tonnes for zinc, which is 7% and 16% lower than original plan.