Lower Output of Nonferrous Metal Ingot in June, Japan

Japanese domestic production and shipment of nonferrous metals and the fabricated products represented year-on-year increase for 6 items among total 20 items in June, according to the statistics by Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry. In May, only 3 items showed y/y increase for both production and shipment. The 6 increasing items in June were consisted of 5 fabricated products and zinc ingot. Production and shipment of nonferrous metal ingot showed y/y decrease for all items except for zinc.Zinc production increased by 4.4% to 56,361 tonnes in June from a year earlier while the shipment expanded by 12.4% to 18,251 tonnes. The increase seemed due to Mitsui Mining & Smelting’s capacity expansion at Hikoshima smelter, Yamaguchi, Japan. Aluminium plate production was 124,316 tonnes in June, up by 4.9% y/y, with the shipment increase by 4.6% to 119,916 tonnes. The demand grew up from can materials, printing boards, general machineries, distributors and exports.Electric cable production for transporting machines increased by 4.3% to 5,033 tonnes in June from a year ago. The shipment was 4,879 tonnes, up by 3.8% y/y. Demand was active for automotive wiring harnesses.Electrolytic copper output decreased by 7.2% to 117,553 tonnes and the shipment dropped down by 15.5% to 70,449 tonnes in June from a year earlier. Both production and shipment represented y/y decline for 3 straight months when copper ore grade became lower. By-products such as gold and silver followed the decline of electrolytic copper.