Japan’s Powder Metallurgy industry sluggish after devastating earthquake and tsunami hits automotive production

News
July 26, 2011

July 26, 2011

Iron powder shipments in Japan for PM applications fell by more than 20% in each of April and May 2011 after the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11 disrupted component supplies to the country’s automotive sector.

According to figures issued by the Japan Powder Metallurgy Association (JPMA) iron powder shipments for PM for the first 5 months of 2011 reached an overall total of 40,945 tonnes – down 11% on the iron powder shipments for the same period in 2010.

Some 90% of all PM parts in Japan find their way into automotive applications.

Copper powder shipments for PM fared a little better – down 7.5% from 2349 tonnes in the first 5 months of 2010 to 2175 tonnes in the same period of 2011.

Figures from the Japan Car Manufacturers Association showed that vehicle production, including cars, trucks and buses, was down 32.5% in the first 5 months of 2011 with total vehicles produced standing at 2,687,467 units. Of this, car production accounted for 2,304,470 units.

Taking the April-June 2011 figures alone saw falls in domestic car output at Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co of around 80%, and 49% at Nissan Motor Co. due to disrupted parts supplies.

Toyota, the world’s biggest car producer, stated that whilst its factories have been running at reduced levels of output, the recovery in parts supplies should see domestic and overseas production return to normal levels by the end of the year. The company also stated that it would produce an additional 350,000 vehicles in the second half of its financial year (October 2011 to March 2012) to make up for lost production.

News | Articles | Market reviews | Search directory | Subscribe to e-newsletter

 

www.ipmd.net

News
July 26, 2011

In the latest issue of PM Review…

Download PDF

Extensive Powder Metallurgy industry news coverage, and the following exclusive deep-dive articles and reports:

  • From powder modification to rejuvenation: Fluidised Bed Reactors in metal powder production and Additive Manufacturing
  • Retech: Enabling the atomisation of reactive and refractory alloys at substantially higher levels of productivity and lower cost
  • Sustainability in Powder Metallurgy: Highlights from the 41st Hagen Symposium
  • Innovations from Japan’s Powder Metallurgy industry: award winners highlight novel automotive and healthcare applications

The latest news from the world of metal powders, delivered to your inbox

Don't miss any new issue of PM Review, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our weekly newsletter.

Sign up

Join our community

Discover our magazine archive…

The free-to-access PM Review magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of Powder Metallurgy from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading PM part manufacturers, metal powder manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

 

Browse the archive

 

Looking for PM production equipment, metal powders, R&D support and more?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our
advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of PM Review magazine.

  • Powders & materials
  • Powder process, classification & analysis
  • PM products
  • Atomisers & powder production technology
  • Compaction presses, tooling & ancillaries
  • Sintering equipment & ancillaries
  • Post-processing
  • Consulting & toll sintering
View online
Share via
Copy link