Japan Copper Alloy Product Shipment Stays Slow in Nov

Japanese domestic shipment of copper alloy products decreased by 7.3% to 84,342 tonnes in November 2007 from a year earlier, according to Japan Copper & Brass Association. The shipment had represented year-to-year decrease for 10 months in a row. The shipment for domestic market decreased by 7% to 68,992 tonnes in November from a year earlier.Shipment for connector pins was 10,208 tonnes in November, down by 2.1% from a year earlier. Copper strip shipment seemed to decrease due to demand decline of connector pins applied into digital appliances. Shipment for gas appliances was 4,009 tonnes in November, which decreased by 18.5% from a year ago and had represented two-digit year-to-year down for 9 months in a row. Brass bar shipment declined which is used for valve materials.Shipment for semiconductors decreased by 6.6% to 4,702 tonnes in November from a year ago. Shipment of copper and copper alloy strip decreased when demand recovery is delayed for discrete semiconductors.Shipment for export was 15,350 tonnes in November, down by 8.8% from a year earlier. Export shipment continued year-to-year decreasing for 6 months in a row with underlying trend of stronger yen against US dollar.