Japan: Copper wire shipments inch up in H1FY22

Copper wire shipments in the first half of FY22 increased slightly to 306,179 tonnes (t) due to increased construction and electronic sales. The Japan Cable and Cable Manufacturers Association has released copper wire shipment statistics for the first half of this fiscal.

The total volume was 306,179 t, up 0.3% y-o-y. Although exports for automobiles and electrical machinery declined y-o-y. Significantly, the total volume exceeded the previous year’s figure for the second consecutive year in the first half of the fiscal year. However, it has not yet recovered to the pre-Covid level. Sector-wise, sales for telecommunications were at 3,828 t, down 15.6% y-o-y.

The effects of reduced investment in telecommunications carriers and the shift to optical technology continued. Production of electric power was 20,917 t, down 9.1% y-o-y, down y-o-y due to the decrease in investments by electric power companies.

Meanwhile, production of electrical machinery stood at 66,169 t, down 2.4% y-o-y. Sales of home appliances stood firm as well as those for electronic communications, but sales electrical components connected to automobiles were weak.

Production of automobiles was 39,968 t, down 2.1% y-o-y. This was a y-o-y decline due to a decrease in production volumes due to a shortage of semiconductors. Construction and electronic sales were 144,267 t, up 1.4% y-o-y. Mainly sales of electrical wires dominated this segment. 

Sales of other domestic demand, which are mostly related to capital investment, were 20,579 t, down 0.6% y-o-y. Exports were 10,451 t, up 68.3% y-o-y.

In addition, demand for copper products in 2022 will amount to 0.79 million tonnes (mnt), an increase of 2.4% y-o-y, as per the Japan Copper and Brass Association.

All 14 varieties are expected to increase due to the rise in global demand for semi-conductors, remote work-related equipment, a recovery in automobile production, and recovery in construction and construction-related demand.

Japan’s new vehicle market grew for the first time in 15 months in September, with sales rebounding by over 24% to 395,163 units from very weak year-earlier sales of 318,371 units, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.