Japanese Cu Alloy Product Export Remarkably Decreases in November

Japanese copper and copper alloy products export is significantly decreasing. The total export dropped by 34% to 8,636 tonnes in November from a year earlier and hit the lowest volume in two and a half years, according to Japan Copper and Brass Association. Copper strip export is especially decreasing due to the demand deterioration for digital appliances along world economy slowdown.

The averaged total export was approximately 15,000 tonnes per month in 2010 and kept around 13,500-14,000 tonnes per month until May 2011. However, the volume sharply decreased in summer 2011. The export dropped by 35-40% in a half year. The monthly export in November hit the lowest volume since 7,731 tonnes in April 2009, the bottom after Lehman Shock.

Copper strip export was 3,080 tonnes in November, 48% minus from a year earlier. Copper strip sales have currently declined for leadframes and other digital applications along the global sales slowdown of liquid crystal panel TVs and personal computers. Moreover, some of copper strip users were hit by flood in Thailand.

Copper tube export is also decreasing. The export volume decreased by 35% in November from a year earlier. The demand seems to weaken from Japanese air conditioner makers’ transplants in Southeast Asia. Japanese air conditioner makers manufacture the products for Europe mainly at Southeast Asian plants but European economy has downturned.