Japan Colored Aluminium Shipment Recovers in 2006

Japanese domestic shipment of colored aluminium increased by 2.7% to 27,981 tonnes in fiscal 2006 ended March 2007 from previous year, which represented year-to-year increase for the first time in 3 years, according to Japan Aluminium Association. The shipment exceeded 10,000 tonnes for electric and mechanical components, which pushed up the total shipment.The shipment continued to decrease for construction usages such for roof, wall and door by 14.9% to 4,764 tonnes in fiscal 2006 from previous year. Non-construction related shipment increased for all demand fields other than household equipment machines. The shipment for electric and mechanical components represented more than 10% growth compared with previous year for the first time in 2 years. Total non-construction related shipment was 23,217 tonnes in fiscal 2006, which upped by 7.2% from fiscal 2005 and represented year-to-year plus for the first time in 3 years.