Japan Indexable Insert Chip Shipment Keeps Record High Level

Japanese domestic shipment value of cemented carbide tools totaled 23.918 billion yen in October, increasing by 30.3% from a year earlier, according to Japan Cemented Carbide Tool Manufacturers’ Association. The shipment value represented year-on-year increase for 11 straight months thanks to the steady demand mainly for cutting tools. The shipment of indexable insert chip is especially increasing.

The shipment value exceeded 24 billion yen in June and July while kept above 23 billion yen in September and October, though which temporarily decreased to 22.2 billion yen in August of summer holiday season. The demand is steady to process automotive or electric components of metals and other materials though the shipment value is still lower than average 30 billion yen or more level at the peak during October 2007-September 2008.

Cutting tool’s shipment exceeded 18 billion yen in June, July, September and October this year. The shipment is still lower than average 22-23 billion yen level at the peak. Meanwhile, the shipment volume of indexable insert chip, the main item among cutting tools, hit record 25 million chips per month in June and kept the level higher than the peak.

Demand for indexable insert chip seems strong at overseas, especially in China. The statistics shows Japanese cemented carbide tools’ export reached 7 billion yen per month in June, July and October, about 90% level of the peak. The export value seems lowered by strong yen trend. Thus the offshore demand is strong.

Domestic production of cemented carbide alloy, the material for tools, exceeded 480 tonnes in September and October. The production is approaching 500 tonnes level since September 2008.