Japanese secondary aluminium and alloyed aluminium ingot output increased by 6% to 69,229 tonnes in March from a year earlier, according to Japan Aluminium Alloy Refiners Association. The shipment increased by 7% to 69,452 tonnes. The output increased for the first time in 5 months and the shipment increased for the first time in 3 months.
The shipment increased for all applications other than for flat rolled products in March from a year earlier. The shipment for die casting increased for the first time in 3 months due to seasonal higher demand and recovery of automobile output. The shipment for casting increased for the first time in 5 months. The shipment for flat rolled products decreased for 6 months in a row due to slow can material export and higher inventory at users. The secondary aluminium and alloyed aluminium makers’ imported base metal purchase in March hit 10,000 tonnes for the first time since September 2009. The makers booked the material in December 2011 to January 2012 due to lower import price when telegraphic transfer selling rate was 77-78 yen per US dollar.