Japan Aluminium Demand Rises by 1.1% in Jan.-June

Japanese aluminium demand increased by 1.1% to 2.207 million tonnes in January-June from same period of 2005, which reached 2 million tonnes for 4 years in a row, announced by Japan Aluminum Association on Friday. The demand keeps firm for automobile increasing aluminium castings and die-castings shipment. The aluminium demand increased for transport and civil works and building in the first half from same period of 2005 while demand for industrial machinery and electronics and communication. The demand for can materials decreased due to bad weather after the slump in 2005. The demand increased by 4.4% to 213,771 tonnes for aluminium castings and by 5.3% to 533,217 tonnes for die-castings in the first half from same period of 2005 while the rolled aluminium demand was flat at 1.08 million tonnes. The total demand increased slightly despite of decrease for electric wire and powder. The demand increased by 4.2% to 812,939 tonnes for automobile in the first half from same period of 2005. The demand increased by 2.5% to 75,231 tonnes for foil materials, by 2.4% to 20,167 tonnes for ship, airplane and rail cargo, 5.2% to 52,366 tonnes for industrial machinery, by 0.1% to 237,881 tonnes for sash and door, by 1.2% to 33,802 tonnes for appliances and by 13.7% to 26,579 tonnes for electronics and communication while the demand decreased by 5.9% to 212,159 tonnes for can materials. The demand is firm except for can when the demand for sash and door recovered from the slump.