Japanese Shipment of Rolled Aluminium Products Decreases by 2.3% for Jan-Jun

Japanese aluminium re-rollers’ output of rolled aluminium products, including flat products and extruded products, decreased by 2.3% to 998,579 tonnes for January-June from the corresponding period of the previous year while the shipment decreased by 1.9% to 1,004,755 tonnes, announced by Japan Aluminium Association on Wednesday. This was the first case since 2009 that both the production and the shipment represented year-to-year minus for January-June. Demand for flat aluminium products largely decreased when car production temporarily dropped due to damages on material supply chains after Japan Earthquake.

The half-year output of flat aluminium products decreased by 4.7% to 618,584 tonnes while the shipment lowered by 4.3% to 621,867 tonnes compared with the same period of 2010. The shipment for car industry dropped by 19.4% to 60,263 tonnes. The shipment for export also declined by 13.8% to 95,008 tonnes. Meanwhile, the shipment for can materials increased by 6.8% to 220,852 tonnes. The shipment rebounded from the low volume for January-June 2010. In addition, can makers accelerated productions since electricity supply regulation was scheduled for July-September.

The output of extruded aluminium products increased by 1.9% to 379,995 tonnes and the shipment increased by 2.4% to 382,888 tonnes. Both the production and the shipment represented year-to-year plus for 2 years in a row. The shipment decreased for car industry but maintained steady for construction market. The shipment for construction market increased by 10.5% to 232,918 tonnes and showed year-to-year plus for 3 years in a row.

Aluminium foil production increased by 0.2% to 60,406 tonnes. The shipment increased by 0.8% to 60,173 tonnes. The shipment for capacitors represented first year-to-year minus in 2 years. On the other hand, the shipment for foods showed year-to-year plus for 3 straight years. The demand increased for instant foods and retort foods after Japan Earthquake.