Brisk Demand for Copper Fabricated Products in September

Demand for copper and copper alloy fabricated products maintained brisk in Japan in September, while entering adjustment phase in some demand fields such as automobile, semiconductor and daily commodities, according to the market research announced by Tokyo Copper Alloy Products Distributors Association on Tuesday. The Association estimated the demand would keep the level within 2006 with expectation Japanese official copper ingot price could stay at over 900,000 yen per tonne in short term, which is the indicator for copper fabricated product price.Brass bar demand was brisk for telecommunication facilities, industrial machines, stationeries and air conditioners in September. The demand was also steady for auto related fields as a whole, while partly entering adjustment phase.Orders for copper strip turned into recovering mood in the last half of September, while having been in adjustment for some automakers since August. Demand for power distribution and liquid crystal display related usages was totally active in September, while in adjustment phase for some users.Phosphor bronze demand was active for cellular phone in September. The demand was also increasing for liquid crystal display and printer related usages. The shipment seems to keep stable for game machine within 2006 as well. Auto related demand was increasing at overseas including China, while not so active from some of Japanese auto parts makers.