Anglo Asia Trading Estimates Secondary Al Output Drop in April

Anglo Asia Trading, Bangkok headed major secondary aluminium alloy maker, estimates its production in Southeast Asia significantly decreases in April. Mr. Chris Hirst, Anglo Asia Trading’s president & CEO, told Japan Metal Bulletin that the firm’s order receipts have already decreased at the plants in Malaysia and Indonesia where car makers are lowering operations due to component supply shortage from Japan. Mr. Hirst said order receipt volume is also likely to decline at Thai main plant.

Anglo Asia Trading produces secondary aluminium alloy ingot such as AC4B, AC4C and AC2A those which are mainly used for four-wheel car and motorcycle wheels. The firm also covers trading business of secondary aluminium alloy materials.

Malaysian plant’s order receipt volume is decreasing by about 30% compared with the beginning of this month. The plant’s output is estimated to total 350 tonnes in April though the plant had kept full operation at 600 tonnes per month by March. Indonesian plant’s order receipt volume is also decreasing by 40% in mid April though the plant had kept full operation at 600 tonnes per month until March.

Thai main plant stopped operation during the national holidays in the second week of April. The plant had kept full production at 1,200 tonnes per month level until the first week of April. Mr. Hirst explained secondary aluminium alloy users, mainly die casting makers, told Anglo Asia Trading this week their productions are likely to decrease significantly in the second half of this month.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese plant maintains full production at 600 tonnes per month thanks to the active demand for motorcycles.

Mr. Hirst gave a cautious view that automakers’ operations might not recover fully within 2-3 months or 6 months. As for the material trading business, he explained there is no order from Japan after Japan Earthquake while the shipment keeps steady for South Korea and India.