Japan Rolled Cu Output Drops by 6.7% in F2011

Japan Copper and Brass Association announced on Thursday Japanese rolled copper output decreased by 6.7% to 806,143 tonnes in fiscal 2011 ended March 2012 from fiscal 2010. The output decreased for the first time in 2 years due to slower export under historical high exchange rate. The output in fiscal 2011 was lower than 806,999 tonnes in fiscal 2008 when the demand decreased after Lehman Shock.

The output decreased by 3.3% to 677,904 tonnes for domestic shipment in fiscal 2011 from fiscal 2010. The output decreased by 21% to 128,239 tonnes for export.The copper strip output decreased by 10% to 230,764 tonnes in fiscal 2011 from fiscal 2010. The demand decreased for semiconductor lead frame in domestic and offshore market in and after summer.

The brass strip output decreased by 3.8% to 106,635 tonnes in fiscal 2011 from fiscal 2010. The demand was slow through August 2011 due to impact of the major earthquake but the output rebounded in and after autumn.

The brass bar output decreased by 3.7% to 187,077 tonnes in fiscal 2011 from fiscal 2010. The output was higher than a year earlier level from April through August 2011 when the users increased the purchase volume with expectation for higher demand for rebuilding activity in the quake damaged area. But the users reduced overstock in second half of fiscal 2011 when the demand was lower than originally expected.