Furukawa-Sky to Raise Aluminium Plate Sales in F2006

Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corp. enjoys the favorable market of aluminium plate for liquid natural gas carrier. The firm expects the volume will increase to record 19,000 tonnes in fiscal 2006 ending March 2007 compared with 12,000 tonnes in fiscal 2005. With higher crude oil price, users focus on relative cheaper LNG along with the environmental clean energy. The firm expects LNG carrier demand will keep firm in mid and long term. The firm expects the aluminium plate sales will increase by 6.1% to 403,000 tonnes in fiscal 2006, which recovers to the level of fiscal 2004. The plate sales were 42,000 tonnes in fiscal 2005 due to slump in information technology industry and LNG carrier. The firm expects the plate sales will increase to 52,000 tonnes in fiscal 2006 under firm demand for LNG carrier along with recovering demand for semiconductor and liquid crystal making facilities. The firm expects the total aluminium sales increases by 5.5% to 451,000 tonnes in fiscal 2006 from fiscal 2005 due to higher sales of extrusion and forging products. The firm tries to increase the sales and profit both for the group and parent company by the higher sales and cost cutting effort.