Japan Makers Expect Better Electrolytic Copper Foil Demand

Electrolytic copper foil demand recovers. Japanese foil makers expect higher sales in first half year to September from fiscal 2006 ended March 2007. Furukawa Circuit Foil plans the sales increase by more than 10% to monthly 7.1 million square meters for domestic market in the first half from average in fiscal 2006. Nippon Mining & Metals expects the sales increase by 10% to monthly 2,100 tonnes including export and Mitsui Mining & Smelting expects higher sales. Furukawa Circuit Foil’s foil sales decreased to around 5.5 million square meters since December 2006 from 6.5-6.7 million square meters before. The sales increase since March 2007 and recovers to average in fiscal 2006 at 6.4 million square meters. Nippon Mining & Metals’ foil sales decreased to monthly 1,900 tonnes in fiscal 2006 from 2,100 tonnes in fiscal 2005. The firm expects higher sales in fiscal 2007 and targets 2,300 tonnes in fiscal 2009. The demand recovery is due to better supply balance for personal computer, cell phone and liquid crystal panel television from overstock in late 2006. The better supply balance of consuming industry increases the foil demand for printed circuit, electrode material of lithium ion battery and electromagnetic shielding material of plasma television.