Japan Rolled Copper Shipment Increases for 9 Straight Months to July

Japanese copper and copper alloy fabricated products shipment increased by 19.0% to 74,663 tonnes in July from a year earlier, which increased for 9 months in a row, according to Japan Copper and Brass Association. However, the shipment showed slower indication for some items when the shipment for refrigerator represented year-on-year decrease for 2 straight months.

The shipment for home increased by 16.2% to 59,569 tonnes in July from a year earlier and declined from 61,906 tonnes in June, which increased to more than 60,000 tonnes for the first time in 20 months. The shipment for refrigerator decreased by 10.7% to 5,875 tonnes and range of decline expanded from 0.6% in June.

The shipment increased by 19.2% to 3,988 tonnes for semiconductor in July from a year earlier. The shipment increased by 17.7% to 10,984 tonnes for connector, which marked more than 10,000 tonnes for 10 months in a row due to steady demand for automobile and home electronics.

The export increased by 31.7% to 15,094 tonnes in July, which recorded more than 15,000 tonnes for 2 straight months due to firm copper and phosphor bronze strip shipment to Asia.