Secondary Al Production Shows Worst Decline for F2008

Japanese secondary aluminum and alloy ingot production decreased by 23.0% to 891,282 tonnes for fiscal 2008 ended March 2009 compared with fiscal 2007, according to Japan Aluminium Alloy Refiners Association. The shipment declined by 21.9% to 909,405 tonnes, which represented the worst year-to-year drop due to the plunge in January-March 2009.

The secondary aluminium and ally production maintained high in first half of fiscal 2008. However, the production decreased month by month since October due to the decline in demand under the economy recession. The production decreased by 38.9% for January-March 2009 from same period of 2008 while the shipment decreased by 41.1% when the automobile-related demand significantly declined.