Nippon Mining & Metals Plans 6% Higher Metal Processing in 1H

Nippon Mining & Metals announced on Monday the firm plans to increase the processed metal products output by 6% to monthly 3,740 tonnes in the first half year to September from same period of 2007. The firm expects the production level for high performance rolled copper products and stainless products is in line with the output last year despite of the uncertainty for economy slowdown. The firm plans to increases the rolled copper output by 6% to monthly 3,580 tonnes in the first half of fiscal 2008 from same period of 2007. The special steel output will increase by 2% to 160 tonnes, of which the high performance stainless products by 67% to 120 tonnes. The firm expects the demand for high grade special steel products keeps firm due to the firm activity by cell phone and liquid crystal panel. The firm sees the rolled copper demand is slowing down since April due to slower economic activity and some output cut by the users. The firm tries to shift to products with high strength and high spring property when the electric parts get smaller and lighter. The firm plans to increase the titanium copper products output by 45% to 80 tonnes in the first half of fiscal 2008 from same period of 2007 while the firm increases the phosphor bronze output by 5% to 1,700 tonnes. The firm experienced temporally boom for order receipt for phosphor bronze and titanium copper in October-December and the order was 10% higher than same period of previous year. However, the demand slowed down in early 2008 and the output in second half year to March 2008 decreased from same period of previous year.