Japan Electric Wire Shipment Hits Second Low in 35-Year as May

Japanese domestic electric wire and cable shipment increased by 11.0% to 49,700 tonnes in copper volume in May from the lowest record for May 2009, according to the quick estimation report on around 130 members of Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association, announced on Tuesday. The shipment hit the second worst record in 35 year after May 2009. The optical fiber products shipment increased by 1.0% to 3.216 million kilometers of fiber core in April from a year earlier.

The electric wire shipment for construction and wholesalers showed year-on-year decrease for 20 months in a row through May, which represented the lowest level for May since 1982. The shipment was slump due to the slowdown in capital expenditure and condominium’s construction.

The shipment for automobile and electronics related industry significantly increased in May compared with the low level in a year earlier. However, the shipment was 24% lower for automobile and showed 16% lower for electric machine and appliance than the level in May 2008.

The optical fiber products shipment in April hit more than 3 million kmf for 2 months in a row. The export increased by 7.6% to 2.581 million kmf in April from a year earlier while the domestic shipment decreased by 19.6% to 620,546 kmf.