ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWS NO. 621 MARCH 2013
Demand of aluminum beverage can in 2013
The Aluminum Can Recycling Association (Chairman, Mr. Takao Fujiwara, Immediate Past President of Showa Aluminum Can Limited) revealed the estimateddemand of aluminum beverage can in calendar year 2012 and 2013 on February 19.
According to the announcement, the demand in 2012 increased 2 per cent from ayear earlier to 19.12 billion can, in which the demand for beer decreased 1 per cent,and the various drinks except beer rose 4 per cent year on year.
The association estimates that the total demand in 2013 decreases 1 per cent fromthe previous year to 18.97 billion can. As the same as the previous year, beer canreduces 2 per cent. Beer breweries have gloomy prospects; the beer consumption
marked the highest in 2007 and then it has become lower gradually year by year
brought by the aging society and the decrease of drinkers. But the demand for various
drinks except beer is predicted almost same level.
The demand of aluminum beverage can in Japan has made up for past some years
as follows. (unit: billion can)2004 18.52
2005 18.42
2006 18.36
2007 18.52
2008 18.43
2009 18.24
2010 18.56
2011 18.80
Notes for the table on page one:A. beer, other alcoholic, nonalcoholic, totaled except beer,totaled domestic supply, bottle type(inside figure)B. empty imported
C. canned imported
D. canned exported
E. totaled domestic demand(unit: 0.1 billion can, bracketed is per cent compared with the previous year.)
China quits export duty for mining products
Chinese government has taxed the export of several mining products, in whichmagnesium and metallic silicon are indispensable metals for aluminum alloy, and theexport duty of magnesium was 10 per cent and that of metallic silicon was 15 per cent.
The government quitted these export tax in January, and since then the movementof these export prices has been noticed. Japanese aluminum alloy refiners have expected the lower prices without export duty.
But actually, metallic silicon’s export price decreased 5.4 per cent only, andmagnesium’s export price went down 3 per cent only, too. Unexpectedly during past
three months, the Japanese yen plunged 12 per cent against US dollar, and ultimately
the prices of these metals have gone up some per cent in yen.
The reason quitted export duty did not clarify. Some say the government wanted tosupport the producers suffered from decreased demand, however the reason of
inadequate decline of export prices in US dollar is not clear.
In January 2011, the World Trade Organization pointed Chinese government thatthe export tax was an unfair international trading control. This is thought one of thereasons.
The chart on page two shows Japanese import rate from China on main miningproducts which were quitted export duty. From left, metallic manganese, magnesium,fluorite and metallic silicon, from the trade statistics in 2012 excepted December.
Export and import of aluminum scrap in 2012
The Ministry of Finance recently revealed the export and import customs clearance of aluminum scrap in 2012. According to this announcement, in 2012 the export
soared 33.8 per cent from the previous year to 146,500 ton, and the import decreased
10.6 per cent from a year earlier to 54,400 ton. Looking at this international tradebalance, it would give any affects to Japanese aluminum refiners.
The main export countries in 2012; Korea was 25.3 per cent, China was 60.5 percent and Hong Kong was 10.2 per cent. Exported scrap to China seems to be mainly
lower grade crushed aluminum, and much of scrap to Korea seems to be usedaluminum beverage can. This year it is supposed that the lower yen would accelerate
the scrap aluminum export.
The table on page three shows the export and import tonnage of aluminum scrap;
left is export and right is import, above is in 2011 and middle is in 2012, bottom is thecomparison with a year earlier. Unit is 1,000 ton.
Greetings of the 40th anniversary
Takao Fujiwara, Chairman
Aluminum Can Recycling Association
It is my great pleasure to express the congratulations for the 40 th anniversary of theAluminum Can Recycling Association. When the association started, the aluminum
can recycling rate was 17 per cent only. Since then, the great efforts both theadministration and civilians have integrated, and as a result, we gained a successful
high recycling rate today we Japanese are proud of.
I sincerely appreciate these everyone’s valuable efforts for past 40 years, and at thesame time, we would like to start again in the cause of a cycling society today. I expect
your great cooperation for aluminum can recycling in the future.
Shell gathering season comes at Mikawa Bay
March is the best season to gather sea shells at Mikawa Bay, and specially seashore
at Kira in Nishio City is noted for excellent short-neck clam.
The photo on page four is the enjoying people gathering sea shells in low tide waterat Kira Waikiki Beach.
The Japan of today
A mystery of Japanese language
On our Asuka Aluminium News January No. 619, the head line of this article had
an error. “LDP regains seats” is right. Strangely enough, Japanese language is lacking
for the pronunciation of “si”. So many English words having “si” were imported andJa- panized such as season, secret, city, seat, cinema scene and the like, every which iswritten and spoken as “shi”. Yet undoubtedly it was our carelessness. Excuse us.