Japan Electronic Materials Output Keeps Flat in 2008 from 2007

Japanese electronic materials output totaled 425.168 billion yen for January-December 2008, according to Japan Electronics & Information Technology Industries Association. The output value was almost as flat as 2007 thanks to the large year-on-year growth during January-June 2008, despite of demand drop in and after October.

Monthly output value was 24.3 billion yen in December, down by 35% from a year earlier. Output value of permanent magnet dropped down by 31%. Magnet makers are adjusting their outputs when automakers and home appliance makers have reduced productions since autumn 2008. Output value of metal materials shrank by 66%, among which electric tube and leadframe materials plunged by 79% along semiconductor market downturn.