Japan Rolled Aluminium Output Rises by 0.9% in F2006

Japanese rolled aluminium output increased by 0.9% to 2.372 million tonnes in fiscal 2006 from fiscal 2005, announced by Japan Aluminium Association on Wednesday. The shipment increased by 1.0% to 2.364 million tonnes. The output and shipment increased for the first time in 2 years due to firm demand for automobile and transport industry. The flat rolled aluminium output and shipment increased in fiscal 2006 from fiscal 2005 for the first time in 2 years. The demand was firm for electronic machinery and distributors despite of lower demand for can materials and export. The higher demand lifted the output and shipment slightly. The extrusion demand was firm for the major application of construction along with industrial machinery in fiscal 2006. The output and shipment increased from fiscal 2005 for the first time in 2 years. The foil output decreased in fiscal 2006 from fiscal 2005 for 2 years in a row. The shipment decreased for 4 years in a row. The slower demand for household items and export reduced the output and shipment despite of firm demand for capacitor. The flat and extrusion aluminium output increased by 0.9% to 207,265 tonnes in March from a year earlier, which increased for 8 months in a row. The shipment decreased by 3.1% to 203,452 tonnes, which decreased for the first time in 8 months. The flat aluminium demand decreased for can materials and electric machinery reducing the shipment. The firm demand for shipbuilding lifted the output. The extrusion output decreased for 3 months in a row and the shipment decreased for 2 months in a row due to slower construction activity. The foil output increased in March from a year earlier, which increased for the first time in 2 months, due to higher demand for capacitor. The shipment decreased for 6 months in a row due to lower export.