Japan Copper Rolled Product Shipment Recovers in 2006

Japanese copper and copper alloy fabricating industry shipped the products of 1.05 million tonnes in 2006, which upped by 5.5% from 2005 and recovered the year-to-year increase for the first time since 2004, according to Japan Copper and Brass Association. The shipment was active for domestic users thanks to economic recovery in Japan. The shipment for domestic users improved for most demand fields in 2006 from 2005, other than construction related demand. The export increased by more than 10% in 2006 from 2005 thanks to demand growth in Asian regions for copper alloy strip and cadmium-free brass bar.