Japan Secondary Al Alloy Shipment Hits New Record in F2007

Japanese secondary aluminum and alloy production totaled to 1.11 million tonnes and the shipment to 1.12 million tonnes in fiscal 2007 ended March 2008, announced by Japan Aluminium Alloy Refiners Association on 30 April. The production increased by 3.1% year-on-year and the shipment by 3.3%. Both hit the new annual records and represented year-on-year increase for 6 years in a row.The shipment increased by 4.3% to 615,535 tonnes for die castings in F2007 from F2006 while increased by 4.3% to 301,130 tonnes for castings. The shipment kept almost flat for flat products, increasing by 1.3% to 75,781 tonnes. On the other hand, the shipment decreased by 2.2% to 67,140 tonnes for extrusions when the demand was impacted by the confusion after the start of Japanese new building standard law in June 2007.Demand for secondary aluminium alloy is concerned currently. The monthly production was 96,462 tonnes in March, increasing slightly by 1.1% from a year earlier, while the shipment decreased by 1% to 95,982 tonnes, which represented year-on-year decrease for the first time since May 2005. The shipment slowed down when demand for automobiles declined in USA.