Japan Secondary Al alloy Shipment Shows Y/Y Down in March

Japanese secondary aluminum and alloy production was 96,462 tonnes and the shipment was 95,982 tonnes in March, announced by Japan Aluminium Alloy Refiners Association. The production increased slightly by 1.1% from a year earlier, while the shipment decreased by 1% from a year ago and represented year-on-year decrease for the first time since May 2005. Slower vehicle sales in North America seemed to impact the demand for secondary aluminium alloy.The shipment decreased by 2.7% to 52,673 tonnes for die castings in March from a year earlier while increased by 3.7% to 26,376 tonnes for castings. The shipment for extrusions declined by 4.3% to 5,500 tonnes when Japanese construction market is confused after the start of new Japanese building standard law.Demand for automobiles became sharply slower in the USA. Car sales seem to decrease in Europe as well due to the slow down of global economy. Japanese source said secondary aluminium alloy is now oversupplied in domestic market. Secondary aluminium alloy makers might slow down their output expansions to adjust the production to the less demand from USA and Europe.See an attached table.