FROM THE EDITOR

This volume reports on the total aluminum product demand in Japan for 2023.  Total demand fell 2.1% from last year’s 3.85 million tons and remained at 3.77 million tons.  The worldwide COVID-19 outbreak  from the beginning of 2020 greatly influenced the economy domestically and abroad.  In 2023, the pandemic seems to have subsided after 4 years, resulting in high expectations for demand recovery.  However, expectations for recovery have been carried over into 2024.