Japanese domestic production of aluminum rolled products, including plates and extrusions, decreased by 4.7% to 195,425 tonnes in October from a year earlier while the shipment decreased by 5.4% to 193,157 tonnes, according to Japan Aluminum Association. Both production and shipment represented the first year-on-year decrease since August of this year. The demand weakened from domestic market as well as export.

 

Aluminum plate production represented the first y/y decrease in 7 months and the shipment in 2 months. The demand was stable from consumer electric appliances and wholesalers while declined from metal processed products such as can materials and printing boards.

 

Production and shipment of aluminum extrusions maintained y/y decrease for 21 months in a row. The demand was low from constructions and automobiles. As to aluminum foils, production and shipment showed the first y/y decrease since August 2008. The demand declined from capacitors and daily goods. –Japan Metal Bulletin