Rolled aluminum product statistics (May 2026)

Research evidence excerpt

Rolled aluminum product statistics (May 2026)

Global Markets Research

Rolled aluminum product statistics (May 2026) 1 July 2026

EQUITY: JAPAN STEEL, NONFERROUS METALS, WIRE & CABLE

Strong shipments of flat-rolled products other Research Analysts

than can materials and automotive materials Japan steel, nonferrous metals, wire & cable

Yuji Matsumoto - NSC

US metal benefits shrink on lower LME prices yuji.matsumoto@nomura.com

+81 3 6703 1220

Flat-rolled products: Shipments up y-y for third straight month on increased Kaori Iwasaki - NSC

shipments for applications other than cans and automobiles kaori.iwasaki@nomura.com

The Japan Aluminium Association (JAA) released May 2026 statistics for rolled aluminum +81 3 6703 1198

products on 29 June and posted them on its website on the morning of 30 June. Shipment

volume of flat-rolled products was up3% y-y for a three straight monthly increase (Figure

1). Shipment volumes were flat for can materials and down 10% for automotive

applications, but up 12% for other applications (Figures2, 3, 4, 5). Shipment volumes of

aluminum flat-rolled products for applications other than cans and automobiles were up

over 10% for a third straight month. We think exports and demand for thick plate for SPE

applications were strong. Shipment volumes of flat-rolled products were up 3% y-y in Apr–

May. Our forecasts for UACJ [5741] (Buy) assume that its Japanese flat-rolled aluminum

shipments (including exports) were flat y-y in Apr–Jun. We think industry conditions

through May have been better than we had expected.

Extruded products and foil: Extruded products brisk for automotive applications,

foil weak overall

Shipment volume for extruded products rose 0.2% y-y in May (Figure6). This marks a

third straight month of growth, albeit a small one.