Japan Optical Fiber Products Shipment Hits Record Volume in 2010

Japanese domestic shipment of optical fiber products hit the yearly record high volume in CY2010, according to a survey on approximately 130 makers those who belong to Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association. The export turned to year-to-year minus in and after June while the shipment for domestic market represented year-to-year plus in and after August and covered the export decline.

The export totaled 25.265 million kilometers of fiber core (kmf) in 2010, which decreased by 4% from the previous year and represented first year-to-year minus since 2003. On the other hand, the shipment for domestic market increased by 13.4% to 8.886 million kmf and showed first year-to-year plus in recent 4 years.

An official of Japanese major electric cable maker analyses offshore demand maintains strong for optical fiber products but Japanese export decreased since local production increased in the world largest optical telecom market, China. In Japan, optical fiber cable shipment temporarily expanded due to governmental project to promote broadband network access in rural areas.

Shipment of environment-friendly copper wire and cable (called “EM wire and cable”) also hit the yearly record volume in 2010. Most of EM wire and cable shipment is for governmental and public buildings. The demand was stable for seismic strengthening works of these buildings in 2010.