Japanese Nonferrous Metal Products Totally Show Y/Y Lower Volumes in 2009

Japanese domestic production of nonferrous metal related products represented year-to-year decrease in 2009 compared with 2008 for 18 items among total 20 items of the survey by Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry. The productions widely decreased during January-March 2009 and didn’t reach the level as high as in 2008 despite of gradual demand recovery in and after April-June.

Electrolytic copper production totaled 1.44 million tonnes through 2009, down by 6.5% from 2008. Domestic smelters started output reductions during January-March in response to the demand decline. The ingot export increased in and after April but the smelters continued production cuts even after September.

Electrolytic zinc production was 540,604 tonnes in 2009, lower by 12.2% than in 2008. The demand dropped from galvanized steel sheets mainly used for automobiles. Zinc ingot inventory expanded by 2.3 times in April from a year earlier. The demand turned into the gradual recovery after April and zinc production represented year-to-year increase in October.

Output volume of copper and copper alloy fabricated products totaled 654,365 tonnes in 2009, decreasing by 30.7% from 2008. The production dropped for January-March affected by wide output reductions of automobiles, semiconductors and digital appliances. Productions turned upward for copper and brass strips thanks to the demand recovery mainly in China. Meanwhile, brass bar and copper tube productions maintained low because of stagnant construction market.

Output of aluminium extrusions decreased by 23.9% to 663,863 tonnes in 2009 from 2008. The demand kept totally stagnant from construction market.