Japan Rolled Copper Production Hits Widest Drop in 1H

Japanese rolled copper production decreased by 47.4% to 265,275 tonnes in January-June from same period of 2008, which represents the largest drop as half year of calendar year in the statistics history since 1953, announced by Japan Copper and Brass Association on Friday. The production drop was 10 percentage points narrower in June from May under recovering demand.

The half year production was 34-year low and the drop was more than year to year 42.1% drop in July-December in 1974.

The largest item of brass bar production decreased by 41% to 66,990 tonnes in the first half year from same period of 2008. The production decreased by 29.1% to 58,651 tonnes for copper tube and by 61.8% to 10,978 tonnes for phosphor bronze.

The copper strip production recovered since April due to better operation rate for automobile and appliances makers. A copper strip maker source expects the demand could keep recovering in the second half despite of the uncertainty. However, the demand recovery is limited for copper tube and brass bar due to slow construction demand along with air conditioner demand.