Japan Nonferrous Metal Products Output Keeps Slow in May

Japanese domestic output of nonferrous metal products represented year-on-year minus for 12 items among 20 items in May, according to the statistics by Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry. The demand from automobile industry dropped after Japan Earthquake. Meanwhile, other applications such as can materials showed strong recovery.

Among copper alloy fabricated products, copper strip demand largely declined from car industry while the demand was also weak for leadframes. On the other hand, brass bar production was stable for gas appliances and water taps. Copper tube production was also stable along the favorable sales of high functional air conditioners.

The shipment of flat aluminium products returned to the level almost as high as a year earlier. The shipment for can materials increased by 23.4% and represented the record y/y plus as May. Beer makers and can makers recovered from temporary operative suspension after the mega earthquake. Meanwhile, the shipment volume was low in May 2010.

The shipment of aluminium extrusions represented y/y minus while the production turned to y/y plus. The demand seemed relatively steady for construction materials.

As for electrolytic copper ingot, Onahama Smelting & Refining in Fukushima, operated by Mitsubishi Materials and other Japanese smelters, and Pan Pacific Copper’s Hitachi Works in Ibaraki were downed by Japan Earthquake. Hitachi Works restarted operation on April 19 while Onahama smelter kept operative suspension during May.