Japanese manufacturers seek more aluminum in bridges and other infrastructure

Reprinted on the bulk non-ferrous net: In recent days, in the context of the global aluminum supply surplus, Japanese aluminum producers have been trying hard to stimulate demand, which is also considered to be a fight! This is no, there is news that Japanese aluminum producers are looking for new design standards to apply more aluminum materials during the construction of bridges and Other infrastructure. At present, aluminum demand in Japan is stagnating.

Under normal circumstances, if aluminum is used in the process of building bridges, the construction cost will be higher than the cost of using steel and cement, but in the later maintenance process, the maintenance cost of aluminum bridges is relatively low, and Maintenance is also easier.

The Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) has announced new aluminum structure design and production standards in March this year, which will make aluminum easier to use in building bridges and sluice gates.

Akira Kaneko, the new president of the Japan Aluminum Association, who has just taken office, said, “We have achieved a breakthrough in the application of aluminum in the infrastructure construction process and the R&D results have been recognized by the Japan Civil Society.”

“Our goal is to strive to build at least one or two bridge projects using aluminum during the year, which will boost aluminum demand.”

The objective of the Japan Aluminum Association is to achieve aluminum shipments of 6.5 million tons (including exports) by 2035, and currently Japan's aluminum shipments are approximately 4 million tons per year.

At present, there are about 700,000 bridges in Japan, and by 2023, over 40% of them, mainly bridges constructed of reinforced concrete, have been put into use for more than 50 years, and they will need to be rebuilt or reinforced. This may be brought to Japan every year. 80-100 million tons of aluminum demand.

Japan is Asia's largest aluminum importer, and Japanese aluminum importers and overseas suppliers are usually considered as the benchmark for aluminum premiums in Asia.

Japan's aluminum premiums in the third quarter were mostly set at around 100 US dollars per ton higher than the LME aluminum price, which is the lowest level in six years, due to the further increase in market supply due to the increase in China's aluminum exports.

Akira Kaneko said, “At present, the aluminum premium near US$100 per ton is fairly reasonable. The future level of aluminum premium depends on the output and exports of Chinese aluminum producers.”