Japan Al Alloy Import Hits Record from China in 2011

Japanese alloyed aluminium import increased by 5% to 1.071 million tonnes in 2011 from 2010, according to Ministry of Finance. The import increased by 18% to 446,134 tonnes from China and the import hit the record under historical high yen rate. Japanese minor alloyed aluminium makers’ order receipt apparently decreases under higher import.

Japanese trading firm source sees around 80% of imported alloyed aluminium is material for die casting. Japanese automotive parts makers are main user of the material and the makers would increase the material use more.

Japanese molten aluminium maker source sees the makers apparently increased Chinese alloyed aluminium in the past two years. The makers mainly use Russian base metal with AK5M2 grade but the base metal price increased in recent years. The price gap narrowed between Russian and Chinese material.

Chinese alloyed aluminium average price was 191 yen per kilogram in 2011, according to Ministry of Finance. The price is much lower than price of Japanese products.