Japan Al Rolled Product Shipment to Increase Slightly in F2008

Japanese domestic shipment of aluminium rolled products is forecasted to increase by 0.6% to 2.33 million tonnes in fiscal 2008 starting April from fiscal 2007, including aluminium plate and extrusion, announced by Japan Aluminium Association. Shipment is expected to keep steady for automobile industry despite less volume for can materials. Demand would recover from construction markets and represent slight increase year-on-year.Aluminium plate shipment is forecasted to decrease by 0.3% to 1.36 million tonnes in F2008 from F2007. Shipment would increase for general machinery and wholesalers while decrease for transporting machines other than automobiles.Aluminium extrusion shipment is forecasted to recover by 1.9% to 971,400 tonnes in F2008 from F2007. However, shipment could not reach 1 million tonnes again with longer impact by Japanese new building standard law.Aluminium foil shipment is expected to keep flat year-on-year at 138,700 tonnes.