Japan Al Re-rollers’ Operation Maintains 70% Level in May

Operation rate at Japanese aluminium re-rollers was averagely 65.6% in May for flat products and extrusions, lower by 25.9 percentage points from a year earlier, according to Japan Aluminium Association. By the month-to-month comparison, the operation rate continued to recover gradually for flat products.

Re-rollers’ operation rate was 75.1% for flat products in May, though which had exceeded 100% a year earlier. Meanwhile, the operation rate has recovered month by month from the bottom at 54.3% in January 2009. The demand maintains stable from can materials.

On the other hand, re-rollers’ operation rate stayed as low as 53.4% in May for extrusions, lower both year-to-year and month-to-month. The demand kept decreasing from construction market when Japanese new housing starts maintained stagnant.