Japan Aluminium Construction Material Demand to Rise by 2.6% in F2008

Japanese aluminium construction materials demand will increase by 2.6% to 428,000 tonnes including sash, door and exterior in fiscal 2008 ending March 2009 from fiscal 2007, announced by Japan Sash Manufacturers Association on Monday. The demand increases in fiscal 2007 for the first time in 2 years despite of very slow building activity. The demand will increases for all applications except for building. The association expects the housing start increases by 10.3% to 1.153 million units in fiscal 2008 after major drop in fiscal 2007. The association sees the recovery is limited due to negative factors including higher oil price and higher land market. The demand for non-wooden building improves in fiscal 2008 when the building activity will recover from the bottom. The association expects the non-wooden building starts is around 115 million square meters. However, the sash for building decreases by 2.5% to 115,000 tonnes in fiscal 2008 from fiscal 2007.