Japanese aluminium shipments in 2009 lowest since 1986

Reuters reported that Japanese shipments of aluminium products amounted to 1.7 million tonnes in 2009 down 21.7% from the previous year with the recovery looking mixed depending on the sector.

The Japan Aluminium Association said that last year's shipment figure was the lowest since 1986. Mr Tetsu Takahashi chairman of the association said that "I think we can say that overall demand has recovered to a little over 80% just as we expected however, the pace of the recovery varies between sectors."

Japan's demand for industrial metals, including aluminium, tumbled from late 2008 due to the global economic downturn, which forced automakers and other top manufacturers to cut production.

Mr Takahashi said that the recovery in the automobile sector has been solid, but construction demand remains slumped and cannot be described as having recovered.

(Sourced from Reuters)