Japan Secondary Al Alloy Output Hits Historical Bottom in Jan

Japanese secondary aluminium alloy ingot production hit the monthly lowest in January since the statistics had begun. The production was 38,626 tonnes, down by 58.6% from a year earlier, according to Japan Aluminium Alloy Refiners Association. Secondary aluminium alloy shipment decreased by 55.4% to 41,521 tonnes in January from a year earlier, the secondly lowest record.

The shipment dropped by 57.3% to 22,491 tonnes for die casting and by 57.4% to 10,172 tonnes for casting, both of which represented the widest minus. Secondary aluminium alloy production showed year-on-year decline for 8 straight months while the shipment for 6 straight months.

Operating rate of Japanese secondary aluminium alloy makers is recently around 30%. Their operations are unlikely to recover before May 2009 when Japanese automakers plan to raise car productions.