Japan Copper Rolled Product Output Downs in March

Japanese copper and copper alloy fabricating industry produced the products of 89,160 tonnes (quick estimation) in March, which downed by 5% from a year earlier and represented year-to-year decrease for 2 months in a row, according to Japan Copper and Brass Association. The production volume decreased for major items such as copper tube and brass bar.Japanese official copper ingot price, the indicator for copper and copper alloy fabricated product prices, turned into uptrend and rose to 870,000 yen per tonne in March. Many users of copper fabricated items regulated their purchasing volume just as much as immediate consumption. Copper fabricators are also concerned the actual demand is declining. Semiconductor related demand has weakened and automobile related demand is also entering adjustment phase currently. Copper fabricator source said auto related orders are decreasing and order situations are being severer.In March brass bar production decreased by 12.4% to 21,108 tonnes from a year earlier, which downed by more than 10% for the first time in 20 months. The demand decreased especially for automobiles, semiconductors and industrial capital expenditure relations.Copper tube production decreased by 6.8% to 15,320 tonnes in March from a year ago, which downed year-to-year for 2 months in a row. The demand slowed down for air conditioners. Phosphor bronze sheet and strip production downed by 4.3% to 4,941 tonnes, decreasing for the first time in 2 months. The demand is weakening for automobiles and personal computers.