Japanese shipments of aluminium products fell 1.0 percent in Nov

Dec. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Japan’s shipments of aluminum rolled products dropped last month at the slowest pace since a contraction in orders began in October last year. Supplies to the domestic and export markets fell 1 percent to 164,859 metric tons from 166,454 tons a year earlier, the Japan Aluminium Association said in a statement today. The pace of decrease slowed for a ninth month. Shipments plunged 39 percent in February, the worst drop in 34 years, as an economic slump slashed demand. Japan’s economy expanded at an annual 1.3 percent rate last quarter, marking the second straight growth after the nation’s deepest postwar recession. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama unveiled a 7.2 trillion yen ($78.6 billion) stimulus package this month to ensure the economy avoids another slump next year. To contact the reporter on this story: Aya Takada in Tokyo at atakada2@bloomberg.net