Japanese Shipment of Al Rolled Products Shows Y/Y Plus for 6 Months

Japanese aluminium re-rollers’ output of rolled aluminium products, including plates and extrusions, increased by 21.6% to 169,839 tonnes in May from a year earlier while the shipment increased by 19.6% to 165,638 tonnes, announced by Japan Aluminium Association. Both production and shipment represented year-on-year increase for 6 straight months.

The production of flat products showed year-on-year increase for 6 straight months while the shipment for 7 continuous months. The shipment of can materials, one of main applications, decreased by 16.2% to 35,260 tonnes since the shipment hit the record volume as May in 2009. The shipment for automobiles increased by 68.7% to 11,531 tonnes, which recovered to near 90% of May 2008 before Lehman Shock. The shipment for export increased by 76.4% to 18,639 tonnes, almost as high as the level in 2008.

Both production and shipment of aluminium extrusion represented year-on-year increase for 6 straight months. The shipment for automobiles increased by 71.7% to 10,626 tonnes, 80-90% of the record level in 2008. The shipment of architectural materials increased by 1% to 32,515 tonnes. The demand maintained stagnant though which showed year-on-year increase for 4 months in a row.

As to aluminium foil, both production and shipment represented year-on-year increase for 7 straight months. The shipment for capacitors increased by 63.1% to 3,552 tonnes mainly for consumer electronics. The shipment also increased by 9.2% to 2,466 tonnes for foods along new products release by food makers.