Kobe Steel Enjoys Firm Demand for Aluminium Plate

Kobe Steel’s aluminium plate production keeps full capacity operation at more than the designed capacity of 2,500 tonnes per month at Moka plant in Tochigi. Aluminium plate demand is firm mainly for manufacturing equipment of semiconductors and liquid crystal display panels. Kobe Steel has expanded its output capacity in order to meet increasing demand for these usages. The aluminium plate production currently maintains full at the firm.Wholesaler source in Tokyo also pointed out aluminium plate demand is brisk at their sites, while not as strong as at the makers. The wholesalers expect the favorable demand condition would continue for a while.Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corporation, Japanese largest maker of aluminium plate, also expects the production would increase in 2006 from 2005 thanks to the demand expansion mainly for liquefied natural gas carriers. Aluminium production is likely to keep favorable paces at Japanese makers for a while.