Japan Rolled Aluminium Products Demand Keeps Flat in 1H

Japanese production of rolled aluminium products was 1.19 million tonnes and the shipment was 1.18 million tonnes in April-September 2006, announced Japan Aluminium Association on Thursday. The production kept flat from the same period of 2005, while the shipment decreased by 0.1% when the demand was slow for can materials, the main demand field of aluminium plate. The shipment declined for 2 years in a row.Production and shipment of aluminium plate decreased in April-September 2006 from the same period of 2005, both of which declined for 2 consecutive years. The demand was firm for printing plate, electronic machine and general machine, while decreased for can material and export.Production and shipment of aluminium extrusion turned to the increase after 2 years, when the demand was brisk for automotive parts and recovered for construction related fields which represents more than half of total aluminium extrusion demand.As to aluminium foil, the production decreased for 2 years in a row, while the shipment turned to the increase after 2 years in April-September 2006 from the same period of 2005. The shipment maintained active for capacitor, though decreased for daily commodities.