Japan Aluminium Ingot, Products Demand Drops by 5.8% in F2009

Japanese demand of aluminium ingot and processed products decreased by 5.8% to 3.57 million tonnes in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008, which was less than 4 million tonnes for 2 years in a row and decreased to lowest level since 3.55 million tonnes in 1989, announced by Japan Aluminium Association on Tuesday. The demand decreased by 6.4% to 3.344 million tonnes for domestic market while the export increased by 2.7% to 226,377 tonnes.

The demand decreased by 7.6% to 1.885 million tonnes for rolled products in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008 while the demand for electric wire increased by 30.4% to 34,640 tonnes. The demand decreased by 1.6% to 415,987 tonnes for can, by 6.9% to 238,512 tonnes for automobile, by 30.9% to 26,056 tonnes for ship, rail and airplane and by 14.6% to 325,532 tonnes for sash and door while the demand increased by 3.4% to 128,690 tonnes for foil and by 13.7% to 46,926 tonnes for electronics and communication devices.

The total aluminium demand decreased by 4.6% to 1.377 million tonnes for transport including automobile, rail and airplane in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008 while the demand increased by 36.4% for power generation and chemical.

Japanese production of rolled aluminium increased by 28.7% to 176,847 tonnes in April from a year earlier. The shipment increased by 28.7% to 177,195 tonnes. The production and shipment increased for 5 months in a row. The shipment level recovered almost 2008 level.