Secondary Aluminium Demand to Hit Record Again in F2007

Japan Aluminium Alloy Refiners Association announced on Monday Japanese domestic demand for secondary aluminium and aluminium alloy ingot will increase by 2.3% to 1.902 million tonnes per annum in fiscal 2007 starting April compared with fiscal 2006. The demand is expected to hit annual record for 6 straight years. Japanese domestic demand for primary aluminium alloy ingot which is applied to casting and die casting is forecasted to increase by 4.1% to record 300,700 tonnes in fiscal 2007 from fiscal 2006.Aluminium alloy demand maintained steady for casting and die casting in fiscal 2006, the main applications of alloyed aluminium, when Japanese domestic vehicle production exceeded 11 million units per annum and more aluminium became to be used for automotive parts. Japanese domestic demand for secondary aluminium and aluminium alloy ingot is estimated to increase by 5.9% to 1.859 million tonnes in fiscal 2006 from fiscal 2005.Domestic demand for primary aluminium alloy ingot is expected to keep steady in fiscal 2007 thanks to slight increase of domestic vehicle production and material shift of auto parts to aluminium, though Japanese auto parts export is concerned to become some slower.Shipment of secondary aluminium and aluminium alloy ingot for rolled products seems to keep flat in fiscal 2007 compared with fiscal 2006. The shipment could maintain active for auto parts while become relatively slower for aluminium can materials and export.