2005’s Welding Product Output Rises 3.5% to 318,080 Tonnes

Japan’s welding product output in Japan increased to 318,080 tonnes by 3.5% over the previous year which expanded for 3 consecutive years. The demand for construction which accounts for about 40% of the whole demand is good in the recent years. That for shipbuilding increased 40% of the whole demand, and that for automobiles was strong. Further, the import also increased. Japanese welding makers are holding out against the import products by upgrading of the quality and delivery. The welding product market has recovered for the past several years. Especially, the shipbuilding volume is expanding in the background of growth of Chinese economy. The amount of the submerging welding products, which are used mainly for shipbuilding, in 2005 increased by 9.7% from the previous year to 40,600 tonnes, whose increasing pace was the highest of all the welding products. The amount of the solid wire for gas shields, which were used for automobiles and constructions increased by 1.2% to 125,350 tonnes; the amount of the flux cored wires for gas shields, which are used for automobiles rose by 8.1% to 102,310 tonnes. The amount of the covered arc welding bar for common steel for distributors, etc. decreased 1.5% to 33,420 tonnes; that for special steel dropped by 7.1% to 13,210 tonnes.