Slower Japan Electric Wire Demand, Association

Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association expects slower electric wire demand for fiscal 2008 ending March 2009. The association announced on Thursday it revised the outlook of 130 members’ shipment downward to 863,000 tonnes in copper volume, which is lower than 875,000 tonnes of original forecast in March and 0.8% higher than fiscal 2007. The demand slows for construction applications. The association revised the optical fiber cable shipment downward to 9.25 million kilometers core, which is 6.3% lower than fiscal 2007. The association revised the copper wire shipment for construction and wholesalers, which represents more than 40% of domestic demand, downward to 178,000 tonnes in copper for April-September, which is 4.1% lower than same period of 2007, and to 190,000 tonnes for October-March 2009, which is 1.6% higher than same period of last year. The demand is 10,000 tonnes lower than original forecast due to slower building demand. The association revised the shipment for electronic machine and appliance downward from original forecast when the users shift the production to offshore site more than expected. The association expects the shipment keeps firm for heavy electronic machine and automotive electrical devises. The association warns the shipment could slow for automobile wiring harness for second half of fiscal 2008 while the shipment was high level in April-July. The association expects power companies keep the high level investment for power line.