Japanese Magnesium Shipment Shows First Y/Y Plus in 2010 since 2007

Japanese magnesium shipment totaled 39,897 tonnes in 2010, increasing by 23% from 2009, announced by Japan Magnesium Association on Wednesday. The shipment represented the first year-on-year plus since 2007 and recovered to 84% level against the peak in 2007.

The shipment for structural applications increased by 32% to 8,287 tonnes in 2010 from 2009. The figure represented 70% level against the peak in 2006. The shipment for die casting, the main application, increased by 25% to 6,878 tonnes along car makers’ production recovery.

The shipment for additive applications increased by 18% to 28,757 tonnes. The shipment for aluminium alloy additives increased by 15% to 20,185 tonnes, which exceeded 20,000 tonnes for the first time since 2008. Magnesium consumption increased at aluminium can material makers and secondary aluminium alloy makers.

The export expanded by 3.4 times to 1,956 tonnes and hit the yearly record. Magnesium alloy export largely increased for the U.S.A.