ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWS NO. 678 DECEMBER 2017
Comparison of year end metals prices 20162016-2017
Favorable market in 2017
Through 2017 the market prices of major practical metals, aｌuminum, copper、
steel and others, rose 20 per cent level.
During this year the international political circumstances were stable. The mostdeveloping countries’ economy went up favorably, and it brought an increase of major
metal's demand. The supply and demand of every major practical metal kept a goodbalance, which brought favorable international market
Yen-dollar market was ‘nt move, therefore denominated yen prices and dollar prices
showed almost same movement.
Outlook in 2018
It is expected that the international relation will be kept better, and it is estimatedthat the better economic progress will be seen in every developing country, and at thesame time in advanced countries, a moderate economic activity will be shown.
The world metals market will be hopeful in the New Year.
Notes for the table on page one(1) primary aluminum (2) die cast zinc alloy (3) copper listed (4) lead listed(5) zinc listed (6) tin (7) nickel (8) steel bar (9) steel sheet (10) steel scrap (11)aluminum scrap TENSE <US cent/lb>(12) fuel oil <yen/liter>(13) gold<yen/gram> (14 ) yen/US dollar
Unit: yen/ton except (11), (12), (13) and (14).
Our winter holidays
We are pleased to announce that our winter holidays are as follows.
December 30 (Saturday) ~ January 4 (Thurs
Please give us your close cooperation for transportation of scrap and products.
The 34 th New Year Praying Meeting is held
It is recently announced that the 34th New Year Praying Meeting will be held on
January 19 at the Kira Kanko Hotel in Mikawa Bay National Park, where the 80 ofdelegates from scrap suppliers are invited.
According to a time-honored custom, at first President Takashi Amano will have atalk titled “New Year random talk” at the meeting hall of hotel, and then all attendants
are going to visit Kannon Temple on the top of Mt. Sangane by bus.
At Kannon Temple traditional Praying meeting for business prosperity and traffic
safety in the New Year will be held very solemnly. The priests light a big sacred fire
invocation and chant a sutra in a loud voice. All attendants have a great belief that the
New Year will be undoubtedly prosperous.
Then at banqueting hall of the Kira Kanko Hotel, a grand New Year party will open
in traditional Japanese fashion. Since it has been one of the biggest events of Asuka,
every arrangement is going on powerfully.
The photo on page four is the Kira Kanko Hotel.

Welcome junior members from Japan Die Casting Association
Japan Die Casting Association has three subordinate groups for junior managers’
education in Tokyo area, Nagoya area and Osaka area.
On October 27, 41 junior members from above three subsidiaries of Japan Die
Casting Association visited Asuka Industries Inc. to study aluminum recycling andenvironmental problem.
At first the representative of this observation tour, Mr. Keisuke Torii, President of
Kotobuki Metal Ltd., made a host speech, and President Takashi Amano statedwelcome words and explained Asuka’s history and outline.
Next, Director Masanao Okada explained our positioning and process kindly, andquestions and answers exchanged very enthusiastically. Then they observed our yard
and plant in detail all around.
Differing from ordinary plant tour members, everyone was an aluminum expert,
therefor their questions were very high level and professional. All visitors could
understand aluminum recycling, environmental problem and energy and resources
problem thoroughly
For all visitors and ourselves, it was a very informative day.
The photo on page two above is Mr. Keisuke Torii’s host speech, and below is all
visitors.
Yearend comment
Where is corporate ethics?
Katsumi Sugiyama, Director
Toshiba’s window-dressing settlement of account was made known. Nissan’s andSubaru’s illegal completed vehicle inspections were revealed. In addition recently,
Kobe Steel, Mitsubishi Material and Toray Industries disclosed that their groups
falsified quality test data.
I can’t understand at all such data falsification problems that have recently dogged
these major companies in Japan.
I have believed that the spirit of quality control system has been thorough with JIS,
Japan Industrial Standard, and ISO, International Standard Organization, even at
smaller companies.
It is very strange that these abnormal management has been neglected for very
long at such famous big firms. I feel anxiety that the reliability of Japanese madequality which we have integrated step by step would fade out with these scandals.
Today under these circumstances, we have to make efforts to produce and to service
better quality products for customers more and more, I think.
I would like to have the lucky New Year “Year of higher corporate ethics”.
A breakaway from elderly society
Hisashi Amano, Chairman
We hear fewer children, population decrease or elderly society, but, we never heard
its definite measure to counter it. I want to suggest one process. The school age lowers
a year during 12 years. Every year pupils increase only one month.
During coming 12 years, we have to make efforts to study on naturalization andemigration system in all seriousness with all citizens.