Japan Rolled Cu Demand to Drop by 0.8% in F2011

Japanese rolled copper demand will decrease by 0.8% to 857,300 tonnes in fiscal 2011 ending March 2012 from fiscal 2010, announced by Japan Copper and Brass Association on Wednesday. The group expected 867,500 tonnes of demand as of March but the demand decreased for flat and strip products after the major earthquake. The group expects slight demand growth through fiscal 2015 but the growth pace is slower than previous outlook announced in 2010.

The rolled copper demand will decrease by 2.5% to 426,950 tonnes in first half of fiscal 2011 from same period of fiscal 2010. The demand decreases for copper, brass and bronze flat and strip products after the quake while the demand increases for copper tube and brass bar.

The demand will increase by 1% to 430,350 tonnes in second half of fiscal 2011 from same period of fiscal 2010 due to higher automobile production. The demand increases by 2.4% to 137,000 tonnes for copper flat and strip products and by 7.1% to 60,900 tonnes for brass strip. The association expects the brass bar demand increases by 2.5% to 99,100 tonnes while the copper tube demand decreases by 11% to 63,000 tonnes.

The association expects the rolled copper demand will increase by annualized 0.4% from fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2015 to 881,900 tonnes. The group now expects the demand is 874,500 tonnes in fiscal 2014, which is 3.6% lower than 907,430 tonnes of outlook as of March 2010.