ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWSNO. 657

MARCH 2016

Demand of aluminum beverage can in 2016
The Aluminum Can Recycling Association (Chairman, Mr. Masahiro Endoh )revealed the estimated demand of aluminum beverage can in calendar year 2015 and2016 on February 16.
According to the announcement, the demand in 2015 increased 10 per cent from ayear earlier to 22.2 billion can, which went up by 0.5 billion can from the last years’
prediction. The increase was brought by the conversion from steel coffee can, and also
the brisk consumption of lower alcoholic beverages and nonalcoholic beverages during
hot summer
In 2015, it is the outstanding first year that the shipment of Japanese-made canexceeded 20 billion can.
The association presumes that the total demand in 2016 will rise 2 per cent fromthe previous year to 22.54 billion can. However beer breweries have gloomy prospects
the aging society and the diminishing drinkers, as same situation as the previous someyears.
Consequently, the association estimates the major demand, beer can, will decline 1
per cent from the previous year, but instead, the demand of alcoholic except beer andnonalcoholic can will increase 4 per cent year on year.
The yearly demand of aluminum beverage can in Japan has favorably swelled since2010 as follows. (unit: billion can)
2009
18.24
2010
18.56
2011
18.80
2012
19.13
2013
19.45
2014
20.14
Notes for the table on page one
A. beer, other alcoholic, nonalcoholic, total except beer,total domestic supply, bottle type(inside figure)B. empty imported
C. canned imported
D. canned exported
E. total domestic demand(unit: 0.1 billion can, bracketed is per cent compared with the previous year.)
Diecast decreases and cast increases in 2015
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry recently revealed the productions ofaluminum diecast and aluminum cast in calendar year 2015. According to the report,
the productions arealuminum diecast
951,715 ton
aluminum cast
418,530 ton
The diecast shrank 2.4 per cent from the previous year, and contrarily, the castincreased 0.3 per cent from a year earlier. Major users of diecast, automobile producers,
decreased their production, and the demand for them decreased 2.5 percent from ayear ago to 847,977ton. Regarding cast, the demand for rail road increased 11.2 percent year on year, which pushed up the production of aluminum cast.

Negative interest rates now for real
On January 29, the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan was held and the board
revealed a new money easing program, negative interest rates policy.
Interbank lending rates plunged as the newest element of the Bank of Japan’s
monetary easing took effect, but whether it succeeds in circulating more money
through the real economy amid financial market remains to be seen.
The BOJ imposed a negative 0.1 per cent interest rate on a portion of financial
institutions’ reserves at the central bank, the overnight lending rate on interbank
loans dropped to zero, the lowest in a decade.
Interest rates further up the yield curve also fell, with the benchmark 10-year
government bond yield slipping 4.5 basis points to 0.04 per cent. The main thrust of
the policy is to get banks to lend and invest more. However today. everyone feels
apprehension on this uncanny scheme.
The chart on page three shows the change of main indicators between three weeks,
from left January 29, February 19 and change rate. From top Tokyo Nikkei stock Ave.,New York Dow Ave., Shanghai stock Ave., Korea stock Ave., Japan 10-year government
bond yield, US 10-year government bond yield, yen/US$, yen/euro, market price ofprimary aluminum (yen) and market price of Dubai crude oil (US$).
Safety Driving Contest throughout 100 days
The Nishio Safety Driving Conference opened the contest “No accident and no violation throughout 100 days” during the last 100 days last year, and 1,650 teams, formedby 5 members, participated and 483 teams, 29 per cent, gained the ends.
From Asuka Industries Inc. 9 teams attended the contest and successfully all teams
obtained goal. On February 29 at the Nishio Police Station, Asuka teams were veryhappily recognized as the photo on page two.
Toba Fire Festival lively on February 24
Toba Fire Festival is one of the winter traditional events in Nishio area, and wehave been observing it every February, nearby New Years’ day of lunar calendar, atToba Shinmeisha Shrine since 1,200 years ago.
The festival was declared an important intangible cultural asset by the Government. It has been handing down that the process of big bonfire shows us the climate
and the rich or poor harvest of the year.
Very happily, the bonfire showed us that the climate would be moderate and theharvest would be rich this year. The photo on page three is high spirited Toba FireFestival.
Shell gathering season comes at Mikawa Bay
March is the best season to gather sea shells at Mikawa Bay, and specially the seashore at Kira in Nishio City is noted for excellent short-neck clam.
The photo on page four is from the cover of Nishio City Bulletin issued on February
15 for all citizens. Nowadays, the time of tide and the weather cause traffic jam. Pleasetake precautions.