Aluminum Shipments by Japan Quicken on Rising Exports (Update1)

Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Japan’s shipments of rolled-aluminum products increased at the fastest pace in three months in November, led by demand from China and other Asian countries, the Japan Aluminium Association said today.

Supplies to domestic and export markets climbed 11 percent to 183,613 metric tons in November from 164,859 tons a year earlier, according to the group. The pace of growth accelerated from October’s 5.8 percent to the highest level since August.

The expansion was led by a 33-percent increase in exports as sales to China and Southeast Asian countries improved, the association said. Overseas shipments also expanded 24 percent from October to 23,504 tons in November.

Members of the association include Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corp., Kobe Steel Ltd. and Nippon Light Metal Co.

Details of output, shipments and inventories are as follows:

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             Nov 2010     Oct 2010         Nov/Oct   Nov Y/Y
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                                             (%)         (%)
OUTPUT        182,472      177,162          +3.0       +10.2
 Flat-rolled  110,782      108,746          +1.9        +9.3
 Extruded      71,690       68,416          +4.8       +11.7
SHIPMENTS     183,613      175,091          +4.9       +11.4
 Flat-rolled  110,991      106,836          +3.9       +10.0
 Extruded      72,622       68,255          +6.4       +13.5
INVENTORY      51,968       52,972          -1.9        -1.2
 Flat-rolled   40,133       40,885          -1.8        +4.4
 Extruded      11,835       12,087          -2.1       -16.5
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