Nikkei MC Aluminium Plans 118,000T Secondary Al Alloy Sales in 2H

Nikkei MC Aluminium, Japanese major secondary aluminium alloy maker controlled by Nippon Light Metal and Mitsubishi Corporation, plans its half-year sales volume at 118,000 tonnes for the second half of fiscal 2011 (October 2011-March 2012). The sales volume is targeted at 68,000 tonnes in Japan and at 50,000 tonnes at overseas. Alloy sales recovery is expected along car makers’ aggressive output expansion in F2011.

Nikkei MC Aluminium has set the annual sales plan at 240,000 tonnes for fiscal 2011, 140,000 tonnes in Japan and 100,000 tonnes at overseas. The total sales were expected to increase by 4% from the previous financial year. However, the first-half-year sales are likely to total 107,000 tonnes, lower than the initial plan. The company’s domestic and offshore plants were forced temporary output reduction after the Japan Earthquake. The domestic sales would total 62,000 tonnes and the overseas sales 45,000 tonnes.

Alloy sales volume didn’t decrease largely at domestic plants. The orders temporarily dropped just after the Japan Earthquake but rebounded in and after April. Overseas plants also suffered temporary decline of alloy order receipts for April-May but the orders came back after a month.

In 2H F2011, Nikkei MC Aluminium considers its domestic and overseas plants could continue full operations along car makers’ output increase. The company’s domestic plants are currently in full operation thanks to the productive network optimization. Each plant implements weekend and holiday works once or twice per month. Overseas plants also continue full operations.