Japan Output of Nonferrous Metal Ingot Increases in Nov

Production and shipment volume of copper alloy products and rolled aluminium products increased in Japan in November 2006 from a year earlier among 11 items processed from nonferrous metals, according to the statistics by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. As to 6 nonferrous metal ingots, production and shipment volume increased for 4 items including electrolytic copper and electrolytic lead. Productive activity kept firm for material products, while became slow for processed products.Output volume of copper alloy products increased from a year earlier for 11 months in a row thanks to continuously active demand for digital appliances, even when the demand seemed in adjustment phase for some automobile related usages. Aluminium rolled products demand was favorable for printing board, general machine and transporting machine including automobile, while slower for can materials and building construction.Electrolytic copper production increased in November due to output expansion at Iyo smelter of Sumitomo Metal Mining and Tamano smelter of Hibi Kyodo Smelting. The shipment also increased with active demand. Electrolytic lead output increased when domestic smelters seemed to expand the production to meet increasing demand.