Japan Rolled Aluminium Output Drops by 4.2% in F2005

Japanese rolled aluminium output decreased by 4.2% to 2.35 million tonnes in fiscal 2005 ended March 2006 from 2004, announced by Japan Aluminium Association on Wednesday. The shipment decreased by 4.1% to 2.341 million tonnes. The output and shipmen decreased for the first time in 4 years. The demand decreased for can and fin materials after boom in hot summer in 2004 while the export decreased though the automotive demand kept firm. The flat products output and shipment decreased in fiscal 2005 from record in fiscal 2004, representing first decease in 4 years. The demand was slow for distributors while the demand was firm for electronic communication devices. The extrusion demand was slow for construction, which represents more than half of the total demand, and for industrial machinery and tool in fiscal 2005. The output and shipment decreased form fiscal 2004, representing first decrease in 4 years, though the automotive demand kept firm. The foil demand was slow for food and daily necessaries in fiscal 2005. The output and shipment decreased from fiscal 2004, representing decreases for 3 years in a row.