ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWS NO．
NO．676 OCTOBER 2017
Change of nonferrous metal market during past 10 years
Asuka Aluminium News has reported year end nonferrous metals market on every
December news, in which the market price of zinc shows a big price rise margin. In
2016 the zinc market price skyrocketed, and at the yearend it reached ¥370/kg.
Though some rebounded price decline was expected in 2017, the market maintains
still favorable tone. Zinc has been a representative and old practical nonferrous metalfor brass, die casting and plating.
This price rise was not happened by a temporary imbalance of supply-demand. It isthought that there is a structural and fundamental change at zinc production. It isvery difficult that it returns to old or former market, and at the same time the main
zinc consumers’ reactions are watched.
In the other hand, aluminum market has been very reasonable supported by a big
production volume and a moderate increase of demand. However during past 10 years
so many aluminum smelters shut down by unprofitability, and the capacity ofproduction converged into China.
Today the Chinese production capacity of primary aluminum exceeds a half ofwhole world production volume.
Notes for the table on page one(1) primary aluminum (2) zinc die casting (3) copper listed (4) lead listed (5)zinc listed (6) tin (7) nickel (8) gold (9) yen
unit: yen/kg except (8) and (9).
Many
Many reservations of plant observation tour in October
Hot summer is over and the most comfortable season, autumn, has come. Reaching
this best season, so many plant observation tours rushed on.
For last some years schools and local governments have executed environmental
education, and Asuka plant observation tour has been one of their measures. Right
now the appointments are as follows.
September 29
Nagoya City Environment Department (Meito Ward)
October 11
Ohbu City Environment Department
October 17
Nakabata Primary School (pupil)
October 27
Central Japan Die Casting Cooperative Association
October 31
Ohbu City Environment Department
The letters of thanks we received after tour show us that the tour had
an impressive effects. The photo on page two is Nakabata Primary school’s pupils
at our plant in last December. They had a very big educational effects.
Whole Japan Labor Sanitary Week opens
Every year from October 1 to October 7, Ministry of Health and Labor campaigns tokeep better healthy condition at each company. The slogan this year is as follows.

Everyone is shiny at healthy workplace.
Look at again workshop for better condition.

Aluminum
Aluminum cast and die cast production favorable in JulyThe Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry recently reported the production ofaluminum cast and aluminum die cast in July. According to the announcement, theproduction of aluminum cast increased 3.6 per cent from the previous same period to37,533 ton. In the same way, the production of aluminum die cast rose 7.1 per centfrom a year earlier to 87,904 ton.
The favorable production of automobile and excellent export of knockdown parts
still continued to the twelve months successive increases from a year earlier for bothproductions of aluminum cast and aluminum die cast.
The table on page two shows the production of aluminum cast and aluminum die
cast in July, and comparison with a year earlier. (1) aluminum cast totaled (2)machines (3) automobile (4) others (5) aluminum die cast totaled (6) machines(7) electrical machine (8) automobile (9) two wheeled vehicle (10) others.
The 54th Asuka Seminar at hand
The hoped-for 54th Asuka Seminar is going to be held on 6 and 7 October at theKira Kanko Hotel in Kira Waikiki Beach, Mikawa Bay National Park. The speaker andsubject are as follows.
speakerMr. Nakaba Ichikawa
Chief Manager, Eco System LLC.
subject
The fittest condition of molten aluminum for cast and die cast
After the seminar, a grand party in traditional Japanese fashion is held to enjoy acomfortable autumn evening, and in the morning of October 7 the 29th Asuka Golf
Competition is held at the Kira Golf Club.
Every arrangement is over. All we have to do is welcome guests. The left photo on
page three is the Kira Kanko Hotel.
The 7tth Nishio Products Fare is held at Nishio Culture Center
One of autumn events in Nisho City, the 7th Nishio Products Fare, is going to beheld on October 7 and 8 at Nishio Culture Center and Nishio Castle Park.
Every year, the various commodities made in Nishio are demonstrated and offeredcheaply. It has overwhelming popularity among citizens. Furthermore as a sideshow, aclassic gun show will be performed on October 7 at Nishio Castle Park.
The right photo on page three is classic gun show by “Musket troops of Nishio
Domain”, devotees of classic gun.
Company news
Thanks to good care by staff, our sweet potato’s harvest time has come at our small
farm. On September 15, we dug a lot of pretty sweet potato, which delighted everyone
thoroughly.
The Japan of today
Prime Minister Abe dissolved the Lower House on September 29 suddenly, and theelection will be held on October 22. He seeks to capitalize on a f ractured opposition.