Japan’s total electric copper wire shipments in Feb’22 were at 51,900 tonnes (t), a marginal dip of 0.4% compared to the same month of the previous year, as per data from the Japan Electric Wire Industry Association.
In addition to the mainstay construction and electric wire sales, those of large-volume electrical machinery and automobiles copper wires fell below the previous year’s level. The total amount has been negative for the third consecutive month.
In terms of categories, sales in telecommunications-related wires were at 700 t, down 5% y-o-y. It was the sixth consecutive month of y-o-y decline due to the fact that these wires are being replaced with optical cables in a continuous trend. Electric power wires sales were at 3,800 t, down 0.1% from the same period of the previous year. Due to weak capital investment by electric power companies, sales fell below the previous year’s level for the second consecutive month.
Sales of electrical machinery wires were at 11,300 t, down 2.5% y-o-y. The automobile electrical equipment segment has been weak since the end of last year, and it seems that this trend is continuing with a y-o-y decline for 3 consecutive months. Sales of automobiles related copper wires were 7,200 t, down 5.5% y-o-y. This has been generally linked to domestic auto production, and it seems that the impact of the semiconductor shortage has had an impact.
Construction and electrical sales
Construction and electric wires sales were at 23,600 t, down 1.9% y-o-y. It seems that the user’s wait-and-watch approach due to the high copper prices and difficulty in procuring some materials had an effect. Sales fell below the previous year’s level for the first time in two months.
Other domestic copper wires demand, which is mostly related to capital investment, was at 4,000 t, up 29.9% y-o-y. This segment has been positive for seven consecutive months. Exports were at 1,300 t, up 7.4% y-o-y and exceeding the previous year’s level for two consecutive months.
This article has been published under an exchange agreement between SteelMint and Japan Metal Daily.
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