Japan Al Rolled Products Demand Keeps Slow in March

Japanese domestic production of aluminium rolled products, including plates and extrusions, was 194,896 tonnes in March, down by 6.3% year-on-year, while the shipment was 193,573 tonnes, down by 5%, according to Japan Aluminium Association. Both production and shipment represented year-on-year decrease for 7 months in a row.The production of aluminium plate showed year-on-year down for the first time in late 3 months while the shipment represented year-on-year decrease for 2 straight months. Domestic demand was totally slow, especially from can materials. Demand for aluminium extrusions was steady from automobiles while maintained weak from construction market. The extrusion production and shipment represented year-on-year decrease for 14 straight months.The production of aluminium foil showed year-on-year decrease for 7 months in a row and the shipment represented year-on-year down for the first time in 6 months. The shipment decreased by 2-digit points in March when demand declined from capacitors.Japanese aluminium re-rollers’ inventory kept increasing for plates, while turned to decrease for extrusions and maintained downtrend for foils at the end of March.See an attached table.