Japan Al Rolled Product Shipment Shows Y/Y Decline for 2 Years

Japanese aluminium re-rollers’ annual output of rolled aluminium products decreased by 4% to 2.24 million tonnes in 2008 from 2007 while the shipment decreased by 4.2% to 2.23 million tonnes, announced Japan Aluminium Association on Wednesday. Both production and shipment represented year-on-year decrease for 2 years in a row.

The output of flat aluminium products represented the first y/y decrease in 2 years and the shipment declined for the first time in 3 years. The shipment increased for general machines and wholesalers while dropped for can materials, foil materials and transporting machines. However, the down range was very slight thanks to the export increase.

Output and shipment of aluminium extrusions showed y/y decline for 2 straight years. The demand maintained stagnant from constructions and turned weak from non-construction applications such as automobiles and general machines.

Aluminium foil production and shipment represented y/y decrease for 2 years in a row. The demand was totally weak from capacitors, foods, daily goods and exports.

In December 2008, the monthly output of aluminium rolled products totaled 144,175 tonnes, down by 22% from a year earlier, and the shipment was 142,976 tonnes, down by 21.7%. Both production and shipment declined widely for 3 straight months.

The output and shipment of flat aluminium products represented y/y decrease for 3 straight months while aluminium extrusions for 23 straight months. Aluminium foil output and shipment showed y/y down for 3 months in a row. In December, the shipment decreased by 70% for capacitors.