Japan Output of Nonferrous Metal Products Slows Down in January

Japanese domestic output of nonferrous metal products represented year-on-year plus for 9 items among 20 items in January, according to the statistics by Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry. The number of y/y plus items decreased from 15 items in December 2010. Among nonferrous metal ingots, 5 items represented y/y minus including electrolytic copper. Among processed products, copper alloy products showed first y/y minus in 15 months.

As for electrolytic copper, Pan Pacific Copper, Japanese largest copper smelter, continued output reduction due to material shortage caused by unprofitable ore price. Among copper alloy products, copper strip output decreased by more than 10% in January from a year earlier. Copper strip is mainly used for leadframes and connector pins while semiconductor and automobile markets turned weak in mid 2010. Export to Asian countries also slowed down.