Japan Al Rolled Product Shipment Maintains Slow in February

Japanese production of rolled aluminium products was 187,752 tonnes and the shipment was 184,208 tonnes in February, announced Japan Aluminium Association. The production decreased by 0.5% from a year earlier and the shipment downed by 3.9%, both of which represented year-to-year decrease for 6 months in a row. Demand declined from construction and can markets.Production of flat aluminium products represented year-to-year increase for 2 months in a row while the shipment showed year-to-year down for the first time since December 2007. Demand was steady from automobiles and general machines while slow from foils, printing plates, fin materials and wholesalers. Export of flat products increased in February from a year earlier.Production and shipment of aluminium extrusions showed year-to-year decline for 13 straight months by February. Demand maintained remarkably weak from construction market. More than half of the demand is from construction market.Aluminium foil production showed year-to-year decrease for 6 straight months while the shipment represented year-to-year increase for 5 months. Demand kept steady as capacitor materials while slow from foods and daily goods.Inventory of flat products and extrusions increased in February from a year earlier while foil decreased for 2 months in a row.