Japan Cu Tube Import Drops by 36% in September

Japanese copper tube import decreased by 36% to 1.271 tonnes in September from August, according to Ministry of Finance. The volume was 44% higher than a year earlier but the lowest volume since February 2011. The copper tube supply was tight but the supply condition is balanced when domestic air conditioner makers started inventory adjustment since late August. The import could decrease toward yearend.

The import record year to year increase from February 2010 to September 2011 when domestic air conditioner demand increased due to very hot summer in 2010 and energy saving trend after the major earthquake. The import increased by 74% to 10,730 tonnes in April-September from same period of 2010.

However, the air conditioner sales peaked out in late August while domestic copper tube makers’ operation got normal. The import would be lower in and after October than September level.

Hitachi Cable announced the firm withdraws from domestic copper tube business by March 2012. A dealer source expects the domestic tube supply could get tight in 2012.

Japanese copper scrap export decreased by 32% to 17,875 tonnes in September from a year earlier. The volume was the lowest level since February 2010 when Chinese importers’ appetite was slow due to lower copper ingot price and Japanese scrap generation decreased. The export volume was 25% lower than August and decreased to less than 20,000 tonnes for the first time since May.