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According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the home appliances 'trade in' policy realized RMB121.1B of sales income in 2010. Sales income and sales volume amounted to RMB16.6B and 3.6 million sets respectively in Q4 2010. Value was up by 142.7% and volume 147.7% from the same period a year ago. A joint programme of the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Environmental Protection stated that effective from June 2010, the policy would be launched in 19 additional provinces and cities, in addition to the existing nine. The time period of the policy was extended to the end of 2011. Home appliances covered by the programme include television sets, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and computers.

The Japan Copper and Brass Association reported that copper semis production amounted to 70,699t in April, a rise of 3.1% m-o-m on a seasonally adjusted basis, and almost flat y-o-y. This was principally attributed to fabricators ramping up production after the government revoked its schedule of rolling power cuts which were employed in March following the earthquake. In addition to this, increased demand from the air conditioning sector and further anticipated power outages over the summer are likely to have supported producers' decisions to increase production in April.

According to data released by the Japan Copper and Brass Association, Japan's rolled copper output amounted to 70,019t in June, a drop of 3.2% m-o-m and 4.2% y-o-y. Despite strong support from the air conditioner sector, demand was hampered by the struggling chip and automotive sectors.

China headquartered, Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group Inc. has not yet broken ground at its proposed USD$100M copper pipe and tube plant in Thomasville, Alabama. The company was expected to begin construction of its first U.S. semis fabricating operation between July and August. The facility is planned to supply 100Mlbs/y of products to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning sector.

Data released by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association indicated that China's output of copper semis increased by 5% m-o-m to 935,350t in August. The rise has been linked to increased demand for power generation equipment, wires and cables and AC motors. However, demand is likely to be offset by seasonally weak demand for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.

Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) is facing community opposition to a planned copper rod facility in New Haven, Ind., that could delay the start of full construction at the greenfield site. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Office of Air Quality will hold a public meeting on 15th September about the plant, a joint venture with La Farga Group, after receiving almost 80 public comments from residents with environmental concerns.

A fire broke out at Mueller Industries' Wynne factory, severely damaging a building which houses the facility's casting operations for copper tube production, as well as the manufacturing of PVC fittings and fabrication of line sets for air conditioning applications. No one was injured in the fire, however it was reported that 170 of the plant's 465 employees have been laid off. The company hopes to spread lost production amongst its 16 other US-based facilities, secure third-party sourcing and provide ongoing supply to customers.

Golden Dragon, based in China's Hunan province, opened a new copper tube plant in the city of Monclova, northern Mexico. The investment of the project amounted to US$100 million and represents the biggest Chinese investment ever made in Mexico. The plant covers 200,000m2 and will employ 900 staff. Currently, annual output capacity is 60,000t of copper tube for air conditioners but the plan is to raise that to 120,000t. The new project will benefit from low industrial costs and a competitive exchange rate; it aims to supply the North American and European markets.

Japanese rolled copper product output fell by 3.7%y-o-y to 68,620t in March. This was mainly attributed to disruption to automotive supply chains following the March 11 disaster. The full impact of the decline of Japanese carmakers is expected to hit copper producers in the forthcoming months due to the expected two month time lag in copper demand. There is, however, optimism about the medium term demand outlook due to growing demand in air conditioner and housing utensil production in addition to the positive effects of the country's forthcoming rebuilding work. Company operations are expected to ramp up after factory repairs are anticipated to be completed towards the summer.