ＡＳＵＫＡＡＬＵＭＩＮＩＵＭＮＥＷＳ

ＮＯ．６６９ＭＡＲＣＨ ２０１７

ＡＬＵＭＩＮＵＭＣＡＳＴＡＮＤＤＩＥＣＡＳＴＩＮＣＲＥＡＳＥＩＮ２０１６
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry recently revealed the productionsof aluminum cast and aluminum diecst in calendar year 2016. According to
the announcement, the productions arealuminum cast423,657 ton
aluminum diecast
957,870 ton
and the production of aluminum cast increased 1.2 per cent from the previous year,
which was three years successive upwardness.
The production of aluminum diecast increased 0.5 per cent yearly. The production
in 2015 decreased 2.5 per cent from the previous year.
Aluminum cast
The main demand of aluminum cast, automobile, increased 1.3 per cent from theprevious year, which showed three years successive increase, and it led the good
performance of all in 2016.
Aluminum diecast
The major demand, for automobile, increased 1.0 per cent, but other demands, formachines. electric machines and bike, were sluggish. Especially, the demand forelectric machines shrunk obviously.
Forecast in 2017
The yearly change of aluminum diecast production is as follows.
2014+ 1.6 per cent from the previous year2015-- 2.4 per cent2016
+ 0.5 per centIt has advanced and retreated in very narrow range. Therefore in 2017, the change ofproduction volume would be very small. However in the U.S. this year, Trump
government starts, and the demeanor shows a distinctive walk. The outcome of theprotective policy they insist is concerned seriously.
The table on page one is the production, ton, and the ratio to a year earlier, per cent,in 2016. (1) aluminum cast totaled (2) machine (3) automobile (4) others (5)aluminum diecast totaled (6) machine (7) electric machine (8) automobile (9)bike(10) others.
Demand of aluminum beverage can in 2017
The Aluminum Can Recycling Association (Chairman, Mr. Masahiro Endo, President of Showa Aluminum Can Ltd.) revealed the estimated demand of aluminum
beverage can in calendar year 2016 and 2017 on February 17.
According to the announcement, the demand in 2016 increased 1.0 per cent from ayear earlier to 22.38 billion can, in which the demand for beer decreased 2.0 per centand the various drinks except beer rose 4.0 per cent year on year.
The association estimates that the total demand in 2017 will be 22.46 billion can as
almost same level as the previous year. The demand for beer can is still gloomy and theassociation estimates it reduces 1.0 per cent from a year earlier.

Beer breweries have gloomy outlook; the beer consumption marked the highest in2007 and then it has become lower gradually year by year brought by the aging society
and the decrease of drinkers.
However all sectors except beer keep favorable demand, in which the increase of
cocktail and highball is remarkable. The association expresses the coffee can’sswitching from steel was over, and the total demand won’t increase so favorable as pastyears.
The demand of aluminum beverage can in Japan in past ten years is as follows.
Unit is billion.
(2006) 18.36 (2007) 18.52 (2008) 18.43 (2009) 18.24 (2010) 18.58(2011) 18.80 (2012) 19.13 (2013) 19.45) (2014) 20.14 (2015) 22.20
Notes for the table on page two:A. beer, other alcoholic, nonalcoholic, totaled 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.)
Aluminum market price rebounds
In the end of 2014, the aluminum market price fell below $2,000 at London Metal
Exchange, and in the end of 2015 it went down at $1,400 level. However in 2016, itrose slowly and in the end of the year it rebounded powerfully. At last it marked $1,800
level in February this year.
There are various explanations on this upward market, an effect of production
curtailment brought by unprofitability, the conversion of bauxite origin or upward
energy market.
The chart on page three is the aluminum 3 month market price at London Metal
Exchange monthly since January 2016.
Shell gathering season comes at Mikawa Bay
March is the best season to gather sea shells at Mikawa Bay, and specially somespots of seashore in Nishio City are noted for excellent short-neck clam.
The photo on page four is the enjoying families gathering sea shells in low tidewater at Kira Waikiki Beach. Nowadays, the time of tide and weather cause traffic jam.
Please take precautions.
Company news
A monkey shows up
The monkey is one of the twelve animals of the Orient zodiac, and the monkey’s
year was over last December. However surprisingly, a monkey made frequent appearances at our site in the end of January.
On morning of 1st February, our employees were astonished to see the notice board,“A monkey makes frequent appearances. Pay attention!” But there was no accident.
According to the recent eyewitness information, the monkey moved some kilometer tosouth and reached seaside area across some roads which have big traffic volume.
The monkey might think over the way of “Bon Voyage” today.