Japan Copper Cable Shipment in 2010 Turns First Y/Y Plus since 2006

Japanese domestic shipment of electric wire and cable totaled 680,702 tonnes of copper in 2010, according to a quick survey on approximately 130 makers those who belong to Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association. The shipment is estimated to increase by 4.9% from 2009 and represent the first year-to-year plus since 2006. The demand volume recovered from automobile and electric appliance industries. Meanwhile, the annual shipment for constructions and related wholesalers would hit the lowest since 1986 and represent year-to-year minus for 5 straight years though the volume rebounded in and after August.

Copper wire and cable shipment for automobiles and electric appliances turned to year-to-year plus in and after December 2009. Shipment volume upturned for automotive wiring harness, magnet wire and wires applied to electric appliances along market recovery of cars, home appliances and digital devices. The shipment for automobiles turned to year-to-year minus in and after October due to the end of Japanese incentive for eco friendly cars. Meanwhile, the annual shipment would total wide-range plus.

However, the shipment for automobiles would decrease by 20% compared with the peak of 2007 and the shipment for electric machines and appliances would decline by 18% from the recent peak in 2006.

The shipment for constructions and related wholesalers maintained stagnant along with weak activities of domestic constructions. Thick copper cable shipment especially kept inactive with less capital expenditure for plant constructions by domestic manufacturing industry. In the second half of 2010, cable demand slightly recovered for small size constructions mainly covered by wholesalers.