Japan Alminium Association to Increase Al Demand to 6.5 Million tonnes in 2035

Mr. Masateru Yoshihara, president of Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corp and chairman of Japan Aluminium Association said the activity of the association Japan Metal Bulletin. Japanese aluminum demand increased by near 10% to about 3.91million tonnes in fiscal 2010 ended March 2011 from fiscal 2009 due to stimulus package, while the demand isn’t clear in fiscal 2011 due to the major earthquake in March. Mr. Yohihara said Japanese rolled aluminum output decreased in April from a year earlier, while the output increased in May and June when speculated demand generated despite the actual economy was weak.

Mr. Yoshihara said the output increased when users such as can maker increased the production ahead of schedule before electricity restriction in summer. He forecasts there is possibility that the rolled aluminum output decreases due to users’ production ahead of schedule and electric power supply restriction in this summer while the output improves in the last half of fiscal 2011 when the demand recovers for some industry and electricity restriction finishes after summer.

The association tries to increase domestic demand to 6.5 million tonnes in 2035 along with technology strategy load map. Mr. Yoshihara said it is hard to achieve its target, but the association puts all its effort into achieving the target. The association tries to maintain the demand at 4 million tonnes for a while and tries to increase the demand to 6.5 million tonnes in the future.

Mr. Yoshihara hammered away for achievement of load map in fiscal 2011 when there is issue for Japanese aluminum industry Mr. Yoshihara gave account the association brings forward research for development for new recycle system from rolled aluminium to rolled aluminium again with 4 companies and Waseda university, and the proposal was adopted by New Energy and Industrial technology Development Organization.

Mr. Yoshihara said the association started investigation of new material development for addition element reduction with a professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology from April to begin new challenge during investigation for next issue.

Mr. Yoshihara said it is important theme to grow human resources for the next generation for the association. The association already offers core human resource cultivation course for younger engineers in fiscal 2011 following last year, and holds aluminium summer school for 30 students in Kyoto in August and younger corporate members talk their works. Mr. Yoshihara said the association is subsidizing the expense of investigation by university for support of seeds for realization of the load map. Mr. Yoshihara emphasized he thinks enhancement of information activity is important for the association, and would like to continue to effort for cognition that aluminium has mass appeal.