Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Shoji Light Metal Sales Corp forecasts Japanese aluminium ingot demand in 2007 to rebound to the 2005 levels, the company has said.
Japan's primary aluminium ingot demand in 2007 is projected at 2.466 million mt, up 3.1% from 2006 and rebounding to the 2005 level, the Mitsubishi company said. According to the company estimates, the Japanese demand in 2006 was 2.391 million mt and in 2005, 2.408 million mt.
The company said the Japanese market is expected to see a rising demand from the automotive sector in 2007. In 2006, car makers pushed forward their aluminium consumption plans as the London Metal Exchange aluminium prices started to climb up in spring that year. "In 2007, car makers postponing their aluminium plans are expected to re-start them," the company said. It expects to see increased usages of the metal in the car bodies in addition to the components under the hood. The company added that aluminium demand is also robust for ships.
"The demand for transport equipment would account for about half of the total. The demand for construction of beverage cans would decrease as the metal faces competition from plastics and other materials," the company said.
豫公网安备41010502003434号