Japan Feb. Aluminum Product Shipments Slump Most in 34 Years

March 27 (Bloomberg) -- Japan’s shipments of aluminum rolled products tumbled by the most in 34 years in February as demand slumped from carmakers and electric machinery producers. Shipments to the domestic and export markets dropped 39 percent to 112,991 metric tons in February from 184,208 tons a year earlier, the Japan Aluminium Association said in a statement today. It was the fifth straight month of decrease and the largest decline since March 1975. Japan is heading for its worst recession since 1945 as manufacturers cut output and reduce their workforce. Exports plunged by a record 49.4 percent in February as deepening slumps in the U.S. and Europe slashed shipments of cars and electronics. The members of Japan Aluminium Association include Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corp., Kobe Steel Ltd. and Nippon Light Metal Co.