This volume reports on the production and shipments of rolled and extruded products for July 2024 and the supply-demand trends for the first half of 2024 (January-June) based on the Japan Aluminium Association’s announcement dated August 29.

As reported in a separate section concerning rolled products, demand for automotive aluminum panels and beverage cans surpassed the previous year’s levels.  Demand recovery in the building and construction sector can finally be observed for extruded products.

Although the performance of plates for semiconductor manufacturing equipment is slack at the moment, there are high expectations as the implementation of specific large-scale facilities from October onward progresses.

On the other hand, the transition to electric vehicles to meet the greatest challenge of “decarbonization” appears to be lackluster.  Since this sector greatly impacts aluminum demand, close observation of the movements thereof is required.