Hitachi Cable Plans 16% Lower Rolled Copper Production in 2H F2009

Hitachi Cable announced on Wednesday the firm plans to increase the rolled copper production by 16% to 5,800 tonnes per month in second half of fiscal 2009 ending March 2010 from same period of fiscal 2008. The firm revised the plan downward by 4% from 6,020 tonnes at original plan announced in April due to lower demand for copper tube and products for appliances. The firm increases the production plan for copper strip to serve firm semiconductor demand.

The rolled copper production will decrease by 9% to 5,625 tonnes per month in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008, which is slightly lower than original 5,760 tonnes.

The firm plans to reduce the copper tube production by 9% to 1,500 tonnes per month in second half of fiscal 2009 from same period of fiscal 2008, which is lower than original plan at 1,840 tonnes. The production decreases by 10% to 1,050 tonnes for products for appliances, which is lower than original 1,180 tonnes. The production increases by 50% to 3,250 tonnes for copper strip.

The rolled copper production decreased by 26% to 5,450 tonnes per month in first half of fiscal 2009 from same period of fiscal 2008. The production decreased by 26% to 1,600 tonnes for copper tube, which is lower than original plan at 1,800 tonnes. The production decreased by 33% to 900 tonnes for products for appliances and by 23% to 2,950 tonnes for copper strip.