Japanese Brass Bar and Copper Tube Production Keeps High in May

Japanese copper alloy fabricators’ total production was quickly estimated at 72,690 tonnes in May, increasing by 0.1% from a year earlier, announced by Japan Copper & Brass Association on Monday. Brass bar and copper tube production kept high level while copper and copper alloy strip production continued to represent year-to-year minus since the demand declined from car industry.

Brass bar production exceeds 17,000 tonnes for 3 months in a row and represents year-to-year plus for 18 straight months. The demand maintains steady for gas appliances and water taps. Copper tube production keeps year-to-year plus for 16 straight months. The demand is especially increasing for high-function copper tube made in Japan this year when energy saving type air conditioners are actively purchased by the end-consumers.

Copper strip production represents year-to-year minus for 6 months in a row. The demand was weak for leadframes as well as for automotive connector pins. Brass strip production also maintains year-to-year minus for 8 straight months which is used mainly for connector pins of automobiles and consumer electronics.

Japan Copper & Brass Association also announced on Monday Japanese import of copper and copper alloy fabricated products hit the monthly record at 5,260 tonnes in April. The import exceeded 5,000 tonnes for the first time since June 2006. Copper tube import expanded by 66.6% to 1,766 tonnes from a year earlier since domestic copper tube supply maintained short against the demand. Brass bar import increased by 31.6% to 1,632 tonnes. By countries, the import was 2,090 tonnes from South Korea and 1,802 tonnes from China.