
Japanese manufacturers of aluminium metals saw their output drop in the April-June quarter as automakers temporarily close-down plants to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to match slide in demand.

The industry is expecting a gradual pick-up in metals used in automobiles and other industries toward March’21, but not enough to bring demand back to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a smaller annual import of raw materials such as primary aluminium ingots.
Japan Aluminium Association said: “The nation’s production of aluminium rolled products slid 15% in the quarter.”

The auto segment accounts 15-18% of the supplies of rolled aluminium products. The recovery in car production has been a vital factor for the suppliers’ recuperation from devastated earnings.
UACJ Corp Japan’s biggest producer of aluminium rolled products also forecast a recovery in demand from automakers after June but cited “uncertainty” over the outlook.
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