Aluminium Extrusion Production Maintains Slow in Osaka

Rolled aluminium production increased by 1.3% to 29,567 tonnes around Osaka in March from a year earlier, according to Japan Aluminium Association. The output increased for plates, sheets and strips while decreased for extrusions and shapes due to slower housing starts in Japan.The production of aluminium sheets and strips increased by 3.9% to 25,449 tonnes in March from a year ago. The output of aluminium plate with more than 6-millimeter thickness was 3,232 tonnes in March, which hit the highest in a year thanks to the demand increase from liquid crystal panel manufacturing equipment for large plant projects around Osaka. The output of aluminium plate with less than 6mm thickness was slow due to the demand decline from constructions. The production of aluminium strip with less than 0.5mm thickness increased by 10.5% year-on-year in March, the highest level in late 5 months.Aluminium extrusions and extracts decreased by 12.4% to 4,118 tonnes in March from a year earlier, which represented the year-on-year down for 12 months in a row. The shapes output was 3,089 tonnes, down by 15% year-on-year and showing year-on-year decrease for 10 months. The production of extruded and extracted bars was also low.Aluminium foil output was 4,816 tonnes, down by 6.6% year-on-year. The output volume was relatively high but represented year-on-year down for the first time in 6 months.