According to Japan Aluminium Association (JAA), Japan's aluminum product shipments grew by 0.5% year on year in October, reaching about 152,000 tons, the second straight monthly increase.

Growth in the plate segment, which climbed by 2.1% to 94,500 tons, powered the overall increase, despite cooling demand for aluminum cans (32,500 tons, down by 1.4%) and passenger vehicles (17,400 tons, down by 6.6%) due to higher year-ago comparison figures.

Shipments of extruded products decreased 1.9% year on year, as weak residential housing starts dragged down construction use. However, strong heavy-duty truck manufacturing provided a lift, pushing automotive extrusion demand up by 4.6%. Meanwhile, aluminum foil shipments decreased by 4.8% to roughly 8,000 tons.

The global outlook remains positive, with aluminum consumption expected to rise significantly by 2030, primarily driven by the electric vehicle sector.