ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWSNO. 638

AUGUST 2014

UBC recycling rate declines in FY 2013
The Aluminum Can Recycling Association, Chairman Mr. Keiichi Usui, revealed
some results on used aluminum beverage can recycling in fiscal 2013, started in April
2013 and ended in March 2014, recently.
According to this announcement,(1) consumption of aluminum beverage can 303,830 ton(19.40 billion can)(2) recycled aluminum beverage can254,509 ton(16.16 billion can)(3) recycling rate
recycling weight / consumed weight
83.8%(4) can to can rate consumption for sheet / recycled weight
68.4
The comparison with a year earlier,consumed weight+ 0.9%
recycled weight－10.8%
recycled rate
－10.9%
can to can rate
+ 1.7%
The association pointed that the 37,012 ton of aluminum scrap was exported to Korea
in 2012, in which 30,000 ton was presumed used beverage can, and moreover in 2013,
the 57,680 ton of aluminum scrap was exported to Korea, in which 50,000 ton would be
used beverage can, and recycled in Korea.
Considering these figures, the association presumes the recycling rate in fiscal 2013reached to 98.4% totally.
The chart on page one shows the history of recycling rate of used aluminum
beverage can since fiscal year 2008.
Our summer holidays
We are pleased to notify our coming summer holiday as follows.
10 Sunday ~ 17 Sunday August
Aluminum price at LME restores $2,000
The aluminum market at London Metal Exchange has been sluggish, but on July
22 the 3 month price marked $2,042, which was the highest market price in the past
17 months. At the market they say the reason of this strong market is happened by thedecreased inventories at LME warehouses.
Looking at other metals, the price movement during past one month is as follows.
aluminum+10.0%
zinc+ 8.0%
lead+3.6%
copper+0.6%
nickel+0.4%
tin
－2.1%
The prices of most nonferrous metals went up, but the aluminum price is outstanding.
Contrarily, the steel market is rather dull internationally.
We think the increase of energy costs have pushed up the cost of aluminum

gradually, and it has brought the reduction of production by little and little.
But today’s inventory at LME warehouses, 5 million ton, seems to be overflow yet.
The market will proceed at today’s level uneventfully, we expect.
The chart on page two is aluminum at LME, thick line, and yen against US dollar
at Tokyo FX market, pale line. Right scale shows US dollar for aluminum and left scaleshows yen for US dollar.
Make us “a tourist attraction”
Japan Metal Bulletin’s interview“Our new plant has far better safety systems for plant tour, and it has been very
easy to welcome visitors. We would like to make efforts more to welcome visitors
through our home page. We want to make ourselves to be one of tourist attractions inNishio”
President Takashi Amano disclosed and besides, “It has passed two years since wemoved here, new plant, and at last today, we have been able to enjoy the newest
facilities’ effects fully ourselves. We want to strive to be able to enjoy further potential
in the future” He braces himself.
The 51st Asuka Seminar is held on October 3 and 4
It was recently announced that the 51stt Asuka Seminar is going to be held at theKira Kanko Hotel in Mikawa Bay National Park on October 3 and 4, whereall users of Asuka are invited.
In the afternoon of first day an informative seminar will be held, and in the eveninga grand party in traditional Japan fashion will be held to interchange business views
each other among all attendants.
The second day, a golf competition is arranged at the Kira Country Club in themorning for golf devotees. Since it has been one of the most generous and traditional
annual events of Asuka, the various arrangements are going on powerfully.
The photo on page three is the Kira Kanko Hotel.
Local news
On August 26 and 27, the big lanterns festival is held at Suwa Shrine in Ishiki. The
legend says this very interesting festival is originated by a huge bonfire that the people
prayed to turn a devil out on the seashore. So many spectators are in the shrine on thevery days as the photo four shows.
On August 25 ~ 31, the Hawaiian Festival is held at Kira Waikiki Beach, whereHawaiian pro dancers team from Polynesian Culture Center perform their proper
Hula, and at the same time, 860 dancers of Japanese pro and amateur enjoy Hulaperformance themselves to the full.
The Japan of today
On July 29, The Central Fire Fighting Agency revealed that 8,580 heat exhaustion
cases were conveyed to emergency hospitals by ambulances during one week, July 21 ~27. The 44.4% of sufferers were 65 years old or over. On the hottest 26, the sufferers
marked 2,489, the biggest. A hot summer is forecasted.