Japan Cu Alloy Product Output Hits 34-Year Lowest in Fiscal 1H

Japan Copper & Brass Association announced on Monday Japanese copper alloy fabricators’ output was quickly estimated at 335,034 tonnes for the first half of fiscal 2009 (April-September), down by 31.3% from the corresponding period of fiscal 2008. The output volume hit the lowest since 258,309 tonnes in the first half of fiscal 1975.

The fabricators’ output recovered compared with January-March 2009 but most items stay at 70-80% level of the first half of fiscal 2008. The recovery is especially delayed for brass bar, copper tube and copper sheet, those which are related to construction and manufacturing industry’s investment.