Japan Secondary Aluminium Output and Shipment Hit Records in 1H

Japanese secondary aluminum output increased by 4.8% to 545,239 tonnes in the first half of fiscal 2007 ended September compared with the corresponding period of fiscal 2006 while the shipment increased by 5.3% to 552,270 tonnes, announced by Japan Aluminium Alloy Refiners Association on Wednesday. Both production and shipment hit the records as 1H. The production kept year-to-year increase for 6 half years while the shipment for 8 half years. Secondary aluminium demand maintains active for automobile industry.Secondary aluminium shipment was favorable for die castings and castings thanks to the strong demand for automobiles while the shipment showed year-to-year decrease for extrusions in 1H when the demand for building materials was slow and domestic aluminium re-rollers were under lower operations.Secondary aluminium alloy makers continue full production after September. Domestic demand became even stronger when Japanese secondary aluminium import is decreasing. Die casting makers also keep high operations. Secondary aluminium demand would maintain the high level for a while.