Japanese VVF Cable Shipment Forecasted to Decrease by 8% in 1H

Japanese electric cable makers’ shipment of VVF cable (vinyl insulated vinyl sheathed flat-type cable) is forecasted at average 3,700 tonnes of copper per month in the first half of fiscal 2010 (April-September 2010), according to Sumiden Hitachi Cable, Japanese largest joint sales company of building wires and cables. The shipment would decrease by 8% compared with the same period of fiscal 2009 and decline by 4% from the second half of fiscal 2009, when domestic construction market is expected to maintain stagnant.

VVF cable is mainly used inside residents. The shipment volume is impacted especially by the shrinkage of condominium market. The demand would rebound in the second half of fiscal 2010 at earliest.

VVF cable shipment totaled average 4,035 tonnes per month in the first half of fiscal 2009, minus by 7% year-to-year. Sumiden Hitachi Cable quickly estimates the shipment at average 3,850 tonnes per month in the second half of fiscal 2009, decreasing by 7% year-to-year.

The shipment of environment-friendly VVF cable is relatively steady for public buildings such as schools and hospitals. However, the volume accounts for only several hundred tonnes in VVF cable shipment and cannot cover the total volume down.