Japan Colored Al Shipment Firstly Recovers in 2 Years

Japanese colored aluminium shipment increased by 8.7% to 13,736 tonnes in the first half of fiscal 2008 (Apr-Sep) from the corresponding period of fiscal 2007, according to Japan Aluminium Association. The shipment represented the first year-on-year increase in 2 years thanks to the steady demand from electric and mechanical components.

The shipment kept 2-digit minus for all construction materials including roofs, walls and doors. Japanese new housing starts dropped after the new building standard law came into effect. Additionally construction projects are recently decreasing under the impact of economic slowdown. Construction-related demand is likely to maintain slow.

As to non-construction applications, colored aluminium shipment showed year-on-year increase only for electric and mechanical components in 1H. The shipment kept the growth for 3 years such for electronic appliance cases, lighting appliances, air-conditioning ducts, switch panels and parabola antennas.

Colored aluminium shipment more than halved for household equipment machines and showed year-on-year decrease for transporting machines and other applications in 1H. The minus ranges narrowed but the shipment amount was below 5,000 tonnes for 2 consecutive years.