Japanese magnesium demand will remain at 40,300 tonnes including export for 2012 as 2011, according to Japan Magnesium Association. The association sees the demand would increase by 4.5% to 6,000 tonnes for die casting and to 20,500 tonnes for additive for aluminium alloy. The demand of structure material would keep firm under recovering automobile production activity while the demand for additive is in line with 2011 level due to slowing building demand for rebuilding in damaged area by the major earthquake.
The demand increased by 1.1% to 40,320 tonnes in 2011 from 2010. The demand of structure material decreased under the impacts of the major earthquake, Thai flood and historical high yen exchange rate while the demand was steady for additive.