Japan Cu Alloy Products Import Drops by 20% in F2008

Japanese import of copper alloy products decreased by 20.4% to 39,846 tonnes per year in fiscal 2008 (Apr08-Mar09) from fiscal 2007, according to Japan Copper & Brass Association. The annual import became below 40,000 tonnes for the first time since 33,760 tonnes of fiscal 2003. In the first half year, the import volume was higher than the same period of fiscal 2007, mainly for brass strip. The import volume rapidly decreased along economic collapse in the second half year.

Brass products import decreased by 29.2% to 15,039 tonnes in fiscal 2008 from fiscal 2007. Phosphor bronze products declined by 23.8% year-to-year and copper products shrank by 13.5%.

The decrease was remarkable for brass strip, which plunged by 32% to 10,646 tonnes. In the first half year, brass strip import increased year-to-year. Domestic makers were tied up with production of copper alloy strip for automobiles in the first half of fiscal 2008. Brass strip dealers and users covered the shortage by import mainly from South Korea. However, the import dropped after November and plunged to 209 tonnes in March.

Copper alloy products import was 16,254 tonnes from South Korea, 13,409 tonnes from China and 1,694 tonnes from Taiwan through fiscal 2008. The import from every country represented year-to-year decrease, 14.2% down for South Korea and 20.8% down for China.