Heat-Pump Water Heater Shipment Continues Increasing in Japan

Domestic shipment of housing heat-pump water heater (called “Eco Cute” in Japan) continues increasing since fiscal 2001 started April, according to Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. Copper rolled products, mainly copper tubes, are used inside Eco Cute. The annual shipment was 350,000 units in F2006, up by 55% from F2005. The half-year shipment increased by above 20% during April-September 2007 compared with the corresponding period of 2006. In the second half of F2007, the shipment may decrease impacted by the new housing starts down in Japan.Eco Cute boils water with air-source heat pump system. Eco Cute shipment was 3,000 units in fiscal 2001, when the association started to take the statistics, and continued to grow up by annual 150-200% every year. The cumulative shipment exceeded 1 million units in September 2007.However, Eco Cute introduction is mainly for new houses and delayed for existing houses. In and after July 2007, Japanese new housing starts represented year-to-year decline by around 60% due to the revision of Japanese building standard law. Eco Cute shipment might become slower under the influence.