ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWS NO. 670 APRIL 2017
JARA estimates 1.4 per cent growth in fiscal 2017
The Japan Aluminum Alloy Refiners Association held a board of directors on
March 24 in Osaka, where the presumption of secondary aluminum alloy demand infiscal 2016, started in April 2016 and ended in March 2017, and its prediction infiscal 2017, starts in April 2017 and ends in March 2018, were approved
and revealed subsequently.
According to the announcement, the overseas economic activity was weak in thefirst half of 2016, but the Japanese economy showed a slow recovery. The personal
consumption and private investment were weak, but the income circumstances showedsome improvement supported by the government. Totally, a slow recovery performed infiscal 2016 domestically,
Overcoming the big damage by Kumamoto earthquake, the major demand, diecast
and cast for automobile, increased. Ultimately, the total demand in fiscal 2016 increased 2.6 per cent year on year to 1,634,100 ton .
Regarding the demand in fiscal 2017, the association predicts that it increases 1.4
per cent from the previous fiscal year to 1,657,300 ton, and the association commentsas follows.
(1) The major demand for diecast and cast will increase gradually. The market andproduction of automobile will be steady, and the export of knock-down parts will bepretty active.
(2) The surged demand for coffee can will be calm down, and the demand for sheet will
be as same level as the previous fiscal year.
(3) The demand for steel will increase slowly.
The table on page one shows the prediction of secondary aluminum alloy demand,on which 27 means fiscal 2015, 28 means fiscal 2016 and 29 means fiscal 2017. Topline shows cast, second diecast, third sheet and extrusion, fourth steel and others andbottom total. The right side figures show the comparison with the previous years.
The tonnage includes the consumption of imported ingot. Unit is ton.
Our golden week holidays
We are pleased to inform you that our golden week holidays areApril 30 Sunday ~ May 7 Sunday
In Japan, April 29 is a national holiday, Green Day. May 3 is a national holiday, Constitution Day. May 5 is also a national holiday, Children Day.
International news Aluminum stock decreases in LME increases in SHFEOn March 20, the London Metal Exchange warehouse stock of aluminum marked
1,985,875 ton, the lowest since the highest record 5,500,000 ton level in January 2014.
Reversely in China, the Shanghai Future Exchange’s stock increased to 316.333 ton,
the highest level, on March 17 since 2016 April. The stock bottomed in December 2016,
and then the stock is increasing.
This opposing movements of aluminum warehouses stock are very interesting.

Aluminum production down in China, up in others
On March 20, The International Aluminum Institute revealed the production ofaluminum in February. China is the biggest producer in the world, and its daily output
was 95,000 ton, which decreased from 95,200 ton in the previous month. The monthly
production was 2,534,000 ton, and the previous monthly production was 2,950,000 ton,which level is the lowest production since last April.
In other area, the daily output was 75,000 ton, increased from 70,000 ton in theprevious month. The monthly production was 1,973,000 ton, decreased from2,170,000 ton of the previous month.
Anti-Korean nationalism in China
Against North Korean military threat, the Korean government decided the installation of the U.S. missile interceptor system. Opposing this Korean movement, theChinese government began trying to annoy Korea through national media, such as thetrade boycott to Korea, or the interruption to Korean sightseeing tour.
It was reported that the Lotte, one of Korean zaibatsu, offered one part of their land
for the installation of the system, and as the result, 87 supermarkets were forced toclose within 99 stores of Lotte in China.
The plunder at Japanese supermarkets or the violence against Japanese cars werethe incidents some years ago. China has to recall that the past unpleasant relationbetween Japan and China is not over.
A new graduate joins us
On March 21 a new graduate joined us. Please give her warm and kind support.
The photo on page two is a recruit, Miss Yuki Muramatsu and President Takashi
Amano at our company entrance ceremony.
The 4th Metal Japan is held in Tokyo
The 4th Metal Japan is going to be held at Tokyo Big Site in Ariake Tokyo on April
5,6 and 7 by the Lead Exhibition Japan Limited, where many metal producers andtraders will attend to display their newest products and technical service of all metals,
copper, aluminum, special steel and rare metals.
It is reported the visitors were 70,000 last year. The more are expected this year.
Nishio Cherry Blossoms Festival opens on April I ~April 9
The Nishio Castle Garden and the Midori riverside are nice spots for cherry
blossoms, and every year the Cherry Blossoms Festival is splendidly held at both spots.
There are flower market, costume play, grabbing eel and gold fish, sampling party ofrice wine and others. So many visitors will enjoy lovely cherry blossoms and variousevents. The photo on page four is Nishio Castle Park and cherry blossoms.
Company news
It has past just 5 years since we have started operation at new plant. We
established “Better environment, better quality and the best service”. We appreciate
the warm support from all our business contacts.