ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWSNO. 658

APRIL 2016

Surplus production capacity of metals in China
The huge surplus production capacity of metals has been seen as a big problem inChina, however recently, the government revealed the curtailment of steel production
capacity by 0.15 billion ton.
In China, it is said that the capacity of steel production has mounted to 1.2 billion
ton, and the yearly real production volume seems to be 0.8 billion ton today, in which
0.1 billion ton or more is exported. This exported volume is nearly equal to the total
Japanese steel production, or the whole European steel demand. This huge steel
export has brought on various trade frictions.
Today, China has enormous production capacity of various metals, primaryaluminum, magnesium, metallic silicon and so on. Therefore the world metal businesspays attention to the outcome of this Government’s steel curtailing measures.
Aluminum market in fiscal 2015
Looking back at the transition of aluminum market at London Metal Exchange infiscal 2015, started in April 2015 and ended in March 2016, the market plunged during
the first eight months with the bearish international energy market. But in November
the market bottomed clearly.
Some primary aluminum refiners have curtailed the production or have been
shut-down by the below cost, and the relation between supply and demand isimproving.
The chart on page one shows the market price at LME in fiscal 2015
Our golden week holidays
We are pleased to inform you that our golden week holidays are
April 29 Friday ~ May 5 Thursday
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.
Since this season has the best weather, we call the first week in May “GoldenWeerk”. During this week, the people go on a pleasure trip domestically or abroad.
Consequently, every train and airline is fully occupied and also long jams are usual onhighways.
Diecast production goes down 2.5% in 2015
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry recently revealed the determinate
report of diecast production in calendar year 2015. It decreased 2.5 per cent from theprevious year to 975,680 ton, and its amount reduced0.5 per cent year on year to539.92 billion yen.
The production for automobile occupied 88.04 per cent. The previous year’s figure
was 88.06, and there was not big change. Major aluminum diecast production went
down 2.3 percent to 951,713 ton.
The table on page two shows the diecast production in 2015, tonnage and thecomparison with the previous year, bracketed.
(1) aluminum totaled (2) machine within (3) electric appliance within (4)automobile within (5) motorbike within (6) others within (7) zinc totaled (8)automobile within (9) others within (10) magnesium (11) grand total (12)automobile within.
The Third Metal Japan is held in Tokyo
The 3rd. Metal Japan is going to be held at Tokyo Big Site in Ariake Tokyo on April
6,7 and 8 by the Lead Exhibition Japan Limited, where many metal producers andtraders will attend to display their newest products and technical services of all metals,copper, aluminum, special steel and rare metals.
At the same time, the newest technical reports are introduced by engineering
specialists as follows.
(1) Aluminum for aircraft, railroad and marine
Mr. Yoichiro Totsugi, JACJ Corporation(2) Aluminum for automobile
Mr. Tsuyoshi Sakurai, Kobe Steel Limited(3) Aluminum for special usage
Mr. Takatoshi Kondo, Japan Light Metal Limited(4) Recycling process of aluminum beverage canMr. Toshihiro Harada, Mitsubishi Aluminum Limited(5) Aluminum for electronics
Mr. Yoshinori Amaya, Showa Denko Limited
It is reported that the visitors last year were 70,000. The more visitors are expected
this year.
A new graduate join us
On March 21, a new graduate join us. Please give her warm and kind support. Thephoto on page three is a recruit, Miss Haruka Tokuda and President Takashi Amano atour company entrance ceremony.
Spring traffic safety campaign
Aichi prefectural government promotes the spring traffic safety campaign on April
6~ 15. In this season, new fiscal year starts. New pupils begin to attend school and new
graduates begin to commute by car. This year’s slogan is“Let us magnify three Ss for safety driving, Stop, Slow and Smart”.
Nishio cherry blossoms festival opens on April 2 and 3
The Nishi 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
as follows.
flower market, costume play, grabbing eel and gold fish, sampling party of rice wine
So many visitors will enjoy lovely cherry blossoms and various exciting events among
the best weather. The photo on page four is Nishio Castle Park and cherry blossoms.