Lower Japan Nonferrous Metal Products Output in April

Japanese production of nonferrous metal products decreased for 14 items in April from a year earlier, according to Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The production turned year-on-year increase for 3 items in April. However, the production was still low due to lower automobile demand after the major earthquake.

Japanese flat rolled aluminium production decreased by 8.5% to 104,058 tonnes in April from a year earlier. The shipment decreased by 10.5% to 98,602 tonnes. The shipment decreased by 28% to 8,386 tonnes for automobile, which hit less than 10,000 tonnes for the first time in 20 months, according to Japan Aluminium Association,.

Japanese electrolytic copper production decreased by 27.4% to 93,198 tonnes in April from a year earlier. The output was stopped at Onahama Smelting and Refining in Fukushima and Pan Pacific Copper’s Hitachi Works in Ibaraki after the major earthquake on March 11. Pan Pacific Copper resumed the output on April 19. However, Onahama Smelting and Refining is still under suspension.