Copper Alloy Product Shipment to Keep Steady in F2008

Japanese domestic shipment of copper alloy products is forecasted to increase by 1.7% to 1.017 million tonnes in fiscal 2008 starting April compared with fiscal 2007, announced by Japan Copper & Brass Association on 25 March. Demand for copper sheet and strip is expected to maintain steady from automobile industry in F2008. Demand for brass bar could recover in the last half of F2008.Shipment of copper sheet and strip is forecasted to increase by 3.8% to 301,500 tonnes in F2008 from F2007. Consumption is increasing for connector pins applied into automobiles. Demand is also expected to increase for connector pins inside home electric appliances such as personal computer, cellular phone and flat television in F2008 when Beijing Olympic will be held.Shipment of brass bar is forecasted to increase by 1.9% to 232,800 tonnes in F2008 from F2007. Demand is expected to recover from LPG gas appliances in and after September. On the other hand, shipment would keep slow for water taps and valves. High copper price and slow housing starts are negative factors as well.Copper tube shipment is forecasted to decrease by 0.5% to 164,000 tonnes in F2008 from F2007. Air conditioner shipment is likely to maintain slow in F2008, the main application of copper tubes. Additionally high copper price might cause material shift among copper product users.Total shipment is expected to represent year-to-year increase in F2008 despite shipment decrease of copper bar and wire, which could exceed 1 million tonnes for 6 years in a row since F2003.