Japan Copper Alloyed Products Shipment Continues Increasing

Copper alloyed products shipment increased by 9.9% to 90,700 tonnes in Japan in October 2006 from a year ago, including domestic demand and export, according to Japan Copper and Brass Association. The shipment continued increasing from a year earlier for 11 months in a row. The domestic demand was firm thanks to economic recovery and the export increased for cadmium-free brass bar and copper alloy strip for Asia.The domestic shipment increased by 7.9% to 73,615 tonnes in October 2006 from a year ago, increasing for 10 months in a row. The shipment increased by 11.4% to 7,185 tonnes for refrigerator when domestic copper tube demand was increasing. Air conditioner makers recently tend to shift domestic production instead of offshore sites when air conditioners became more high-functional. The shipment for transporting machine increased thanks to steady automobile production in Japan, mainly for brass bar applied to radiator parts. The shipment also increased for connector pins by 0.8% to 11,647 tonnes, the largest demand field, due to active sales of personal computer and cellular phone. Export hit widest jump from a year earlier in October 2006 in 2006, increasing for 11 months in a row. Cadmium-free brass bar demand increased in Asia such as China and Malaysia after Restriction of Hazardous Substances was carried out in European Union. Copper alloy strip demand also increased mainly in Asia applied to automobile and electronic appliances.