Yazaki’s Electric Cable Division Increases Output by 30% in May

Yazaki Corporation’s electric cable division increases the production by 30% in copper volume for the business month from April 21 to May 20 compared with the pre-disaster output plan in order to meet the strong demand for building wires and cables. The firm also decided emergent import of 6kV XLPE insulated and vinyl sheathed cable from Thai subsidiary, Thai Yazaki Electric Wire. The division’s annual shipment is estimated to increase by about 10% in copper volume in the business year ending on June 20 compared with the previous business year.

The division produces and sells building wires and cables as well as high and medium voltage cables for electric distribution. About 80% of building wires and cables is sold to electric cable and appliance wholesalers.

Orders have signigicantly increased for building wires and cables since Japan Earthquake occurrence. Mr. Toshiyuki Nagasawa, the division’s sales manager, said the division’s shipment volume jumped by 30% in the business month by April 20 from the pre-disaster plan. Demand is especially strong for XLPE insulated and vinyl sheathed cables.

The division totally stopped operations of Numazu factory and Fuji factory in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan from April 30 to May 8 along Japanese long holidays. Meanwhile, the division plans to increase the total production by 30% including the import from Thailand in the business month by May 20. Thai-Yazaki Electric Wire supplies building wires and cables, and high and medium voltage cables mainly to Thai market. There is no import of building wires and cables from Thai-Yazaki to Japan in the normal situation.

The division’s annual shipment is expected to increase by 10% in the business year ending in June compared with the previous business year since Japanese building wire and cable demand hit bottom in July-September 2010. However, the division forecasts annual loss mainly due to insufficient price hike of building wires and cables when electrolytic copper market price strongly surged.