ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWS NO. 652

OCTOBER 2015

Technical seminar “Auto and aluminum” is held
Seeking lighter, safer and more comfortable automobile, the aluminum consumption for automobile has increased year by year, and moreover in the future, the growthof aluminum consumption is expected hopefully today.
Under these circumstances, a technical seminar “Auto and aluminum” is going to
be held by the Aluminum Association on November 9 at the Kyurian room in
Shinagawa Civic Center in front of JR Oumori station Tokyo.
The seminar is projected under sponsorship of the Metallic Materials DevelopmentCenter, the Light Metal Academy, The Light Metal Products Association, the Light
Metal Welding Association, the Automobile Engineering Academy, the Japan
Aluminum Alloy Refiners Association, the Japan Diecast Association and the Japan
Magnesium Association.
The program is as follows.
(1) 10:00 greetings(the recent tendency between automobile and aluminum)
Mr. Hideo Mizukoshi, UACJ Corporation(2) 10:20 Honda’s development for fuel-cell powered vehicle
Mr. Nobuhiro Saito, Honda Motor Corporation(3) 11:10 aluminum sheet for automobile
Mr. Takeo Sakurai, Kobe Steel, Ltd.
(4) 11:50 aluminum extrusion for automobile
Mr. Tetsuji Yanagimoto, Mitsubishi Aluminum, Ltd.
(5) 13:20 aluminum cast for automobile
Mr. Toru Komazaki, Ryobi , Ltd.
(6) 14:00 aluminum diecast and automobile
Mr. Suguru Takeda, Ahresty Corporation(7) 14:50 aluminum welding for automobile
Mr. Mihaya Imamura, Kobe Steel, Ltd.
(8) 15:30 aluminum surface treatment for automobile
Mr. Takahiro Koyama, UACJ Corporation(9) 16.10 questions and answers with all instructors
The Japan Aluminum Association has started to accept the application. The fee is¥10,000, or ¥4,000 for students. The information and application are welcomed bythe association.
4 – 2 – 15, Ginza Chuou-ku Tokyo 104 – 0061
Tel 03 – 3538 – 0221
Fax 03 – 3528 – 0233
Whole Japan Labor Sanitary Week starts
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 isLet’s check mind and body ourselves
Let’s start to expand healthy workplaces.
Taking this opportunity every year、all companies review their surroundings.

Thriving aluminum production and its dull market(1) Swelling aluminum production
The international primary aluminum market is sluggish at around $1,600/ton,which shows the lowest level in past six years. In spite of such a severe market, there
is no news on the curtailment of production.
Recently, the International Aluminum Association revealed the world production ofprimary aluminum during the first half of this year as follows.
Except for China
12,98million ton (+2% from the previous same period)
China only
15.60million ton (+18% from the previous same period)
It shows us that China’s production was really abnormal, and furthermore, it isreported from China that right now the production capacity of 1.8 million ton is underconstruction and is going to start production in the later half of this year.
A paper points the surplus primary aluminum production capacity reaches 5.5
million ton at 85% operation yearly in China.
(2) Export duty problem in China
In China the export of primary aluminum has been imposed 15% of export duty.
The government has wanted to support aluminum processors, such as aluminum sheet,bar, extrusion, foil and others. The export duty of primary aluminum helps processors
and interferes the export of primary ingot.
Recently, by the imbalance between bigger production and consumption, the inventories of aluminum seems to be enormous, and the aluminum smelters want toexport their products to international market. The smelters, holding both surplus
production capacity and inventories, propose against the government the exemption of15% export duty.
Naturally, the exemption of 15% export duty of aluminum gives some shocks
against aluminum processors in China, and they would move any things. We note
Chinese government’s reaction on this taxation problem, and at the same time, notethe market of yuan, Chinese currency.
(3) Peculiarity of China business
Major Chinese businesses are entered by Government, local governments ormilitary, therefore they don’t conduct themselves so quickly and effectually against
external changes as we are.
Looking at the primary aluminum industry, its production capacity gets bigger far
from supply-demand relation. If they should attend the international aluminum
market, a big effect would happen at that time.
Today, they confront the shortage of labor, the boost of wage or the hard problems
on environment. In any case, we would like to keep our eyes upon the government’sintention on export duty of primary aluminum and a great gap between its production
and consumption.
52nd Asuka Seminar is just around the coorner
When it comes to autumn Asuka Seminar is our greatest highlight. It is held soon
and we expect both a big attendance and a successful seminar. All Asuka staff await
October 9 with a big expectation.