Japan Rolled Al Output Turns Minus Again in August

Japanese domestic production of aluminium rolled products, including plates and extrusions, decreased by 3.2% to 170,289 tonnes in August from a year earlier, while the shipment decreased by 6.5% to 170,856 tonnes, according to Japan Aluminium Association. Both represented the first year-on-year decrease since May 2008 due to stagnant demand from construction applications.Aluminium plate production kept y/y increase for 5 straight months but the shipment showed the first y/y down in 5 months. The demand increased from can materials and general machineries while decreased from foil materials, printing boards and exports.Production and shipment of aluminium extrusions represented y/y decrease for 19 months in a row. Both production and shipment showed 2-digit decline due to slower demand from automotive parts, sashes and doors.Aluminium foil production hit the first y/y decrease in 4 months and the shipment in 3 months. The demand was stagnant from daily goods, foods and exports.Aluminium plate and extrusion inventories increased at the end of August from a month ago. Aluminium foil inventory kept downtrend.