Japan Secondary Al Output and Shipment Hit Records in February

Japanese secondary aluminum and alloy production was 93,658 tonnes and the shipment was 94,563 tonnes in February, announced by Japan Aluminium Alloy Refiners Association on 1 April. Production increased by 0.6% from a year earlier and represented year-to-year increase for 31 months in a row while shipment increased by 1.3% from a year earlier and represented year-to-year increase for 33 straight months. Both production and shipment hit monthly records. However, the growth rate slowed down such for die castings, the main application of secondary aluminium.Secondary aluminium alloy shipment decreased by 1.1% for die castings in February from a year earlier while the shipment increased by 8.7% for castings. Shipment for extrusions decreased by 4.9% year-on-year when demand from construction market declined due to slower housing starts.Secondary aluminium makers seemed to keep full production in March with strong demand from automobile industry.