Japanese copper and copper alloy rolled products production was 65,540 tonnes in October, according to quick estimation announced by Japan Copper and Brass Association on Friday. The production decreased by 12% from a year earlier to represent below 70,000 tonnes for three months in a row. The production decreased by 7.1% to 56,351 tonnes for domestic market and by 32% to 9,189 tonnes for export. The production for export hits below 10,000 tonnes for the first time since May 2009.
The brass strip production would show year-on-year increase for two months in a row through October, mainly used for automotive connector pins. Automobile output largely shrank after the Japan Earthquake and sharply rebounded in and after September. The copper strip production was also firm for automotive connectors in October but the production was slow for semiconductors and electronic devices. Demand is also weak for phosphor bronze sheet and strip from electronic appliance markets. The brass bar production is estimated to hit the lowest volume since September 2009. Domestic dealers minimized brass bar procurement along sharp decrease of electrolytic copper market price. Actual demand also turned weak for water tap and valve. The copper tube production has completely slowed down since entering the non-demand season.