Japanese aluminium building material production increased by 4.5% to 25,273 tonnes in September from a year earlier while the shipment increased by 5% to 29,578 tonnes, according to Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry. Both production and shipment represented year-on-year increase for five straight months while the range of increase narrowed compared with the figure in August. New housing starts are decreasing in Japan when governmental incentive for environmental friendly residents ceased at the end of July and economic trend is weakening.
Production and shipment of aluminium sash for wooden houses represented year-on-year increase for five straight months through September. However, the range of increase was only one digit. In August, the production increased by 13.9% and the shipment increased by 15.1%. Aluminium door and exterior also showed the same trend. Japanese new housing starts decreased by 10.8% to 64,206 houses in September from a year earlier. The figure turned to year-on-year decrease for the first time since March 2011.