Japan Copper Alloy Fabricators Enjoy Profit Growth in F2006

Japanese 6 major copper alloy fabricators, including copper alloy product business units of general nonferrous metal companies, posted higher consolidated operating profits in fiscal 2006 ended March 2007 than previous year while KITZ Corporation’s operating profit decreased. The 6 fabricators gained better profits thanks to the sales volume increase under the firm economy condition in Japan. In fiscal 2007 the 4 fabricators estimate their operating profits would decrease from fiscal 2006 with price down of copper metal.San-Etsu Metals, a brass bar maker, posted 2.3 times higher operating profit in fiscal 2006 than previous year. The brass bar sales were active for automobiles and home appliances. Additionally the firm tried to increase the output of high value products such as cadmium-free brass bars and ultra thin wires. The annual sales of brass bar and wire hit record 63,000 tonnes.Furukawa Electric’s Metal Business Unit posted 57% higher operating profit in fiscal 2006 than fiscal 2005 thanks to favorable demand for copper strip, copper foil and plated products. Metal Processing Unit of DOWA Holdings gained 14% higher operating profit in fiscal 2006 than fiscal 2005 when the sales of copper alloy sheet, plate and tin plated products increased for automotive connector pins.Operating profit increased by 15% at Mitsubishi Shindoh in fiscal 2006 compared with fiscal 2005. The sales volume of copper alloy sheet and strip increased by about 10% which are used for connector pins. Metal Fabrication Unit of Nippon Mining & Metals posted 3% higher operating profit in fiscal 2006 than fiscal 2005 thanks to the sales increase of phosphor bronze and titanium copper alloy products.Copper Rolling Unit of KITZ Corporation posted less operating profit in fiscal 2006 than fiscal 2005. The firm could not pass material costs enough on the selling price even when copper metal price jumped up in April-May 2006.