Japan Rolled Aluminium Output and Shipment Increase in August

Japanese output of aluminium rolled and extrusion products increased by 0.6% to 174,658 tonnes and the shipment increased by 0.9% to 182,406 tonnes in August from a year ago, both of which turned to the increase after 2 months, announced by Japan Aluminium Association on Wednesday. The output and shipment increased slightly from a year earlier thanks to firm demand for automobiles.The output and shipment increased for flat products in August from a year earlier for the first time in 2 months. The demand was brisk for printing plate and electric machinery, while decreased slightly for can materials due to long rainy season of this year in Japan.The output and shipment decreased for extrusions in August from a year ago for the first time in 2 months. The construction related demand was firm, which represents more than half of the total demand, while the demand decreased for metal products in August from a year ago.As to aluminium foil, the output decreased for 3 months in a row while the shipment increased for 2 straight months from a year earlier. The demand maintains favorable for capacitors, the main usage field of aluminium foil.