Japan Copper Rolled Product Output Downs in June

Japanese copper and copper alloy fabricating industry produced the products of 84,780 tonnes (quick estimation) in June, which downed by 7.1% from a year earlier and represented year-to-year decrease for 5 months in a row, according to Japan Copper and Brass Association. The production volume decreased for leading items such as brass bar, copper tube, phosphor bronze sheet and plate. Copper strip production showed year-to-year down for the first time in 10 months as well. Backgrounds are that copper product users minimize their purchasing volume while copper price keeps extremely high and that the demand is recently stagnant mainly for automobile and semiconductor related industries. Copper strip demand maintains stagnant for auto industry and lead frames applied to discrete semiconductors. Brass bar demand declines especially for small motors and liquid crystal displays as well as gas appliances and water taps. Phosphor bronze sheet and strip is weak for cellular phones and personal computers. Copper tube demand is relatively steady for consumer air conditioners while low for show cases and industrial air conditioners.