- H1 volumes drop first time since 1973
- Auto sector demand improves y-o-y
Japan’s copper wire shipments totalled 287,090 t in the first half of calendar year 2025 (January–June), declining 5.2% y-o-y, according to preliminary data released by the Japan Wire Manufacturers Association on 17 July. This marks the first H1 drop in two years and the lowest level since records started being kept, from 1973. While automotive-related demand improved, large declines in the construction and electronics sectors—which together account for nearly half of total demand—dragged down overall shipments.
Construction and electronics-related shipments fell to 133,659 t, down 10.4% y-o-y. The decline was largely due to extended construction timelines, attributed to ongoing labour shortages in electrical and civil works. Both the electrical installation market (served by contractors) and the commercial market (for electrical materials stores) were weak. The electronics segment also suffered, though some sub-sectors such as communications equipment showed mild improvement.
Automotive sector shipments rose to 46,504 t, up 12.2% y-o-y, supported by rising domestic vehicle production and the growing use of electrical wiring in increasingly complex and feature-rich cars. Production for electrical machinery stood at 56,802 t, marginally down 0.2% y-o-y. While demand for basic electrical components remained soft, demand from electronics and communication segments showed signs of slight recovery.
In the power sector, shipments for electricity-related applications fell to 19,564 t, down 9.1% y-o-y, as electric utilities cut back on capital spending. Within this, distribution projects remained weak, though transmission-related demand was relatively firm. Telecommunication-related demand dropped sharply to 3,632 t, down 12.6% y-o-y, driven by a slowdown in telecom carrier investments and the completion of major optical cable replacement projects.
Other domestic demand rose to 22,211 t, up 7.4% y-o-y, largely supported by capital investment-led activity outside of core sectors. However, exports plunged to 4,718 t, down 47.5% y-o-y, as last year’s figures were inflated by large one-off power cable shipments. This sharp fall contributed to the overall market contraction. Looking ahead, industry participants remain cautious, with hopes pinned on government infrastructure push and possible export recovery in H2 to stabilise wire demand.
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