Japan, Cemented Carbide Tool Shipment in 2005 Rose by 13.4% to 293.617 Billion Yen

Japan, the shipment value of the cemented carbide tool for domestic in 2005 rose by 13.4% to 293.617 billion yen and the amount of the cemented carbide production in domestic increased by 13.8% to 6,268 tonnes, according to Japan Cemented Carbide Tool Manufacturers’ Association. Both figure updated a record high considerably for 2 consecutive years. The shipment value of the cemented carbide tool increased by 33% in 2005 from 2 years ago, the amount of the cemented carbide production jumped by 39%. The demand of the cutting tool expanded greatly before a background of the intensely capacity investment of automobile makers. The demand of the cutting tool such as cutter, drill, end mill, bit and the chip of the changing blade edge is in high level for automobile from the last half of 2003. The shipment of the sintered diamond and CBN tool is increasing rapidly by such as the refinement of the cutting work. In the cemented carbide cutting tool, the shipment of CBN tool increased especially.The cemented carbide tool export increased significantly before a background of the aggressive automobile production of Japanese maker in overseas. The tool export for China in 2005 expanded to 13 billion yen from at 10.4 billion yen in 2004 that China is No.1 of the destination for export, Germany was second, U.S. was third.The cemented carbide tool import was good since domestic demand was activity. The import volume from China in 2005 was largest because Japanese tool makers are extending the production of Chinese base. Sweden was second; U.S. was third.The shipment of the rock drilling tool for domestic in 2005 increased in 6 years. The shipment of the wear resistant tool in 2005 not too increased compared with other tool because the shipment of the metal mold or electronic item decreased over the previous year.