Japan Rolled Copper Demand to Rise by 21.4% by F2014

Japanese demand of rolled copper products will increase by 21.4% to 907,430 tonnes including export demand in fiscal 2014 ending March 2015 from fiscal 2009, announced by Japan Copper and Brass Association on Thursday. The association expects the copper strip and sheet demand renews record and the brass bar demand increases from fiscal 2009 while the copper tube demand decreases gradually from fiscal 2011.

The association estimates the rolled copper demand is 33-year low of 747,300 tonnes in fiscal 2009 while the demand is higher than estimated 713,930 tonnes as of October 2009. The association expects the demand is 855,490 tonnes in fiscal 2010, 867,150 tonnes in fiscal 2011, 884,330 tonnes in fiscal 2012 and 896,030 tonnes in fiscal 2013.

The association expects the copper strip and sheet demand will grow by annual 5.1% from 235,200 tonnes in fiscal 2009 to 301,000 tonnes compared with record 289,235 tonnes in fiscal 2007. The demand will increase for terminal connector and semiconductor lead frame.

The brass bar demand will increase by 4.3% to 202,500 tonnes in fiscal 2014 from fiscal 2009 due to recovering housing and building demand along with higher export. The brass strip and sheet demand will grow by annual 5.1% from fiscal 2009 to 136,400 tonnes in fiscal 2014 due to higher demand in terminal connector application. The copper tube demand will increase by 4.4% to 121,600 tonnes in fiscal 2010 from fiscal 2009 but the demand decreases to 113,500 tonnes in fiscal 2014.