Japanese Copper Tube Import Keeps Record High Level in August

Japanese copper tube import increased to 2.5 times at 1,972 tonnes in August from a year earlier, according to the trade statistics by Ministry of Finance. The import hit the monthly record volume for 3 months in a row until the shipment hit 1,990 tonnes in July. The import in August didn’t reach 1,990 tonnes of July but the import kept very high level and continued representing year-on-year increase for 11 straight months. Domestic copper tube supply kept tight when the demand maintained strong from air conditioner makers.

The import from China accounted was 1,262 tonnes in August. The import was 395 tonnes from South Korea and 306 tonnes from Thailand. Japanese copper tube makers continued to prioritize product supply to air conditioners when consumers’ demand was strong for energy-saving type air conditioners this summer. As result, supply maintained tight for coated copper tube for piping or common grade tube for wholesalers and the import increased.

In and after September, copper tube import would decrease. Air conditioner’s demand season already ended and Japanese air conditioner makers entered output adjustment in late August. Then copper tube makers are gradually clearing order backlogs.