Japan Rolled Aluminium Products Demand Decreases in May

Japanese production of rolled aluminium products was 199,632 tonnes and the shipment was 196,856 tonnes in May, announced by Japan Aluminium Association on Wednesday. The production downed by 0.7% from a year ago and represented y/y decrease for 2 straight months. The shipment decreased by 0.5% from a year earlier which represented y/y decrease for 3 months in a row. The demand was slow for construction.Production of aluminium plate showed y/y down for the first time in 10 months in May, while the shipment represented y/y increase for 2 straight months. The demand was firm for foil material and transport while slow for can material, printing plate and general machine.Production of aluminium extrusion showed y/y decrease for 5 straight months and the shipment for 4 months. The demand increased for automotive parts but decreased for general machines.As to aluminium foil, the production decreased from a year ago for the first time in 3 months while the shipment showed y/y increase for 2 straight months. The demand was firm for capacitor and export, though decreased for foods and daily commodities.Inventory volume maintained uptrend for plate and extrusion and downtrend for foil.