Japan Market Price of Rolled Al Products Weakens in November

Market price of aluminium rolled products declined by 5 yen per kilogram for large aluminium plate, 52S grade plate and 56S grade bar around Tokyo at the end of November from a month earlier, according to the seasonal survey for the members of Japan Light Metal Merchant’s Association. Some wholesalers decreased the reselling prices in advance to reduce their inventories before domestic primary aluminium price downs in January. The market price kept flat for all items of the survey around Osaka and Nagoya where trading volume of rolled aluminium products is less than Tokyo.Domestic primary aluminium price, an indicator for rolled aluminium products, downed by 10 yen per kg for October-December compared with July-September and will decrease by 50 yen per kg for January-March from the previous quarter. The down range will become wider than originally expected 40 yen for January-March since overseas aluminium market dropped down due to the US economy decline and Japanese yen became stronger against US dollar.Market demand for rolled aluminium products was gradually recovering for semiconductor and liquid crystal display facilities for October-November while maintained stagnant for buildings. The demand was not strong as total. Wholesalers decreased their reselling prices in November to reduce their high-price inventories before primary aluminium price declines in January. The market price keeps weak at present.