Japanese output of copper and copper alloy fabricated products totaled 65,940 tonnes in November, which decreased by 10.4% from a year earlier, according to a quick estimation by Japan Copper & Brass Association. The total production represented year-to-year decrease for six straight months and less than 70,000 tonnes for four months in a row.Copper strip production represented year-to-year decrease for twelve straight months through November. The demand has especially slowed down from semiconductor and electronic industries since fall 2011. Phosphor bronze sheet and strip also kept year-to-year decrease for thirteen months.On the contrary, brass strip production reached 10,000 tonnes for the first time since June 2010 when the demand maintained steady along car output recovery. Brass strip is mainly used for automotive connector pins.Copper tube production showed wide-range year-to-year decrease in November but the volume was higher than the figure in the same month of 2009. In 2010, copper tube shipment was especially busy along air conditioner makers’ high outputs after hot summer. Brass bar production currently represents more than 10% lower than average 17,000 tonnes before summer 2011.See an attached table.
