Japan Rolled Al Operation Rate Recovers 80% in 2010

Japanese rolled aluminium operation rate reached 83.9% in 2010, which reached 80% for the first time in 2 years and increased for the first time in 4 years, according to Japan Aluminium Association. The operation rate was lifted when extrusion operation rate increased by more than 10 percentage points from 2009 while the makers reduced the capacity. The rate was lower than recent peak of 81.8% in 2006.

The operation rate was 76.8% for extrusion in 2010 compared with 66.5% in 2009. The operation rate increased for the first time in 3 years. The higher rate was due to more than 15% higher production and lower capacity when makers closed the lines. The rate was recent peak of 89.5% in 2006.

The operation rate for flat products was 88.9% in 2010, which was the first increase in 2 years. The higher rate was due to 20% higher production than 2009. The rate was lower than recent peak of 93.7% in 2006.

The rolled aluminium production increased by 7.6% to 170,111 tonnes in December from a year earlier. The shipment increased by 7.6% to 167,738 tonnes. The volume increased for 13 months in a row both for production and shipment.

The flat products’ production increased by 3% to 101,730 tonnes in December from a year earlier, which increased for 13 months in a row. The shipment increased by 4.7% to 98,952 tonnes , which increased for 14 months in a row due to firm demand for can materials.

The extrusion output increased by 11.3% to 68,381 tonnes in December from a year earlier. The shipment increased by 12% to 68,786 tonnes. The volume increased for 12 months in a row both for output and shipment.

The foil output increased by 4.6% to 9,919 tonnes in December from a year earlier, which increased for 2 months in a row. The shipment increased by 2.8% to 9,614 tonnes, which increased for 13 months in a row.