The Japan Sash Association expects a slight decrease in demand for aluminum building materials next year.
Aluminium sash windows offer strength, durability and are highly resistant to rust and corrosion. They provide slim-lines, more glass area and less visible frame.
Areas other than exteriors are expected to fall below the previous year’s level. The sash is expected to be affected by the shift to resin windows for wooden houses and the decrease in condominium construction in the city centre. Demand for next year will be 324,000 tonnes, down 0.9% from the previous year.
By item, wooden house sashes were 88,000 tonnes, down 1.6% y-o-y. In addition to the resinification of sashes, the number of housing starts is expected to decrease due to difficulties in procuring materials and soaring logistics costs, and the difficult business environment is expected to continue. Building sashes were at 72,000 t, down 1.5% y-o-y.
While it is expected that the non-wooden floor area will increase from the previous year due to the increase in investment in distribution facilities, the usage rate of aluminum in distribution facilities tends to be lower than that of residential properties, and it is not expected to contribute to the increase in demand for sashes. In addition, doors were 21,000 t, down 3.3% y-o-y, and interior fittings were 32,000 t, down 2.1% y-o-y.
The only exterior that is expected to increase in demand is 111,000 t, up 0.8% y-o-y. The expected demand for aluminum building materials in FY2009 is 327,000 t, an increase of 0.6%. The increase in the number of new housing starts and the demand for nesting have contributed. The breakdown is 90,000 t of sashes for wooden houses, which is the same as in the previous year, 73,000 t of sashes for buildings, a decrease of 2.8%, doors of 22,000 t, an increase of 1.9%, and exteriors. 110,000 t, an increase by 2%, and interior fittings increased by 4.7% to 33,000 t.
Image Credit: Riken Yamamoto & Fieldshop
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