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"The report focuses on automotive HVAC and Cabin comfort systems, which have cemented their place in a vehicle with the growing demand for luxuries. The automotive HVAC systems which were first introduced in 1930s are standard equipment in almost every vehicle in the developed markets such as U.S. and Europe. The key drivers behind the growth of this market are the rising amount of time spent by people in their vehicles and the growing popularity of private vehicles over public transport. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the largest segment in automotive HVAC market owing to the large vehicle production levels in countries such China, India, and Japan."

"Wireless charging manufacturers are expected to reach economies of scale to offer the technology at a competitive price by 2016 or 2017. The perceived value also may improve with time. The smartphone market is the earliest adopter of wireless power charging technology, and is the largest revenue contributor to the global market. Other potential applications include consumer electronics (e.g., tools, lights, phones, headsets, and laptops), electric vehicles, and industrial uses. Wireless charging technology is expected to expand into these markets during the forecast period."

US speciality brass mill Ansonia Copper and Brass Inc. has announced that it will lay off 85 of the 102 employees at its Liberty Street, Ansonia, factory in Connecticut. The plant manufactures copper alloy rod and wires. Company President Raymond McGee said "it's a very, very difficult situation". He blamed the redundancies, on top of 76 employees laid off in April 2007, on the company's struggle with escalating costs. Since 2002 electricity costs have soared 239%, natural gas 200%, fuel oil 125%, and copper and nickel 500% apiece. Ansonia's other facility in Waterbury, CT, which manufacturers copper alloy tube is unaffected by the announcement.

Further evidence of the impact of the North American economic slowdown on copper demand has recently been published by the ABMS and government statistical bodies. North American copper wirerod production plummeted 9.6% year-on-year to 174,000 tonnes in April. Output had been on a downward trend but the magnitude of the deterioration in April has still come as something of a surprise. A year-on-year increase of 2.0% in North American output January had been followed a 1.0% fall in February and a 2.7% drop in March. In April Canadian output was flat year-on-year due to improving export sales to the US, while US production fell 9.8% year-on-year and Mexican shipments slumped by 17.5%. On a year-to-date basis North American wirerod production was 2.9% lower in the four months to April 2008. Weakening demand from the automotive industry, coupled with a resurgance in copper prices and the return of Russian wirerod imports has clearly led to a deteriorating market situation for domestic mills.

Mueller Industries second quarter results highlight the tough times that the US brass mill industry is facing, but that companies can still operate profitably in a challenging market environment. The company's plumbing and refrigeration segment saw sales fall 11% to US$404m, while its operating profits dropped 32% to US$35m. The company blamed lower shipment volumes and lower spreads for the weaker performance. Sales at the company's OEM division, which includes its brass rod activities, rose 10% year-on-year to US$354m, while its operating profits rose 5% to US$19m. The improvement here is due to acquisition of Extruded Metals. Commenting on the results Harvey Karp, Chairman of Mueller Industries said "Mueller's earnings for the first half of 2008 were achieved despite the continuing decline in the housing industry, the sub-prime mortgage meltdown, the turbulence in the financial markets, rising metal costs, sky-high energy prices and a slowing national economy. Considering these adverse circumstances, we are pleased with the results."

Demand impact

"By far, the replacement rate of copper with aluminum alloy and Aldrey alloy is up to 70% to 75%. In contrast, that of China is only 3% to 5%. In 2014, the aluminum alloy cable value is near RMB130 billion. In the global market, aluminum alloy cable is a common product for electric transmission line. With new energy gaining more popularity in China, the application of aluminum alloy will become wider and wider. In this report, ASKCI will further disclose market potential and commercial opportunities for aluminum alloy cable industry in China. Recommendations will be given at the end of the report to describe the prospect and provide suggestions for strategy making."

"The copper industry is already facing substitution challenges from materials like aluminium and needs to use technology to help ensure larger-scale, more permanent switches are not made, industry participants said. A group of panelists at the Metal Bulletin and American Metal Market Copper Seminar in New York on Wednesday June 6 said that while technology is clearly an opportunity for the industry, there are still some risks. According to Freeport McMoRan vp sales and marketing Steve Higgins, much of the "easy substitution" - such as plumbing tube or transformer lines - has already happened. "Substitution is less than 2% of refined demand today… It's a bit troubling, but it happens," he said. "The bigger worry is that aluminium is going to make inroads into products that have high switching costs - ACR tubing, motors, or into some medium to high voltage power cables and the like that the manufacturers have to go in and put in a lot of capital costs to convert. Once converted, switching back becomes "extraordinarily difficult," he said. "That's the biggest risk to our market as I..."

Kulicke & Soffa Industries Inc (K&S) has announced that the company has entered into definitive agreements to acquire substantially all of the assets of Orthodyne Electronics Corporation, a supplier of wedge bonders, and sell the K&S wire business unit to WC Heraeus GmbH, a precious metals and technology group. Under the terms of the Orthodyne agreement, K&S will fund the acquisition of Orthodyne with approximately 7.1 million shares of K&S common stock, plus $80 million in cash. If the transaction is not consummated by October 31, 2008, the purchase price will be approximately 19.6 million shares of K&S common stock and no cash. The deal includes possible earn-out consideration up to an additional $40 million in cash if certain financial objectives are met by Orthodyne over the next three years. The closing of the transaction, which is expected within approximately 60 days, is subject to certain working capital adjustments and closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. "The acquisition of Orthodyne is in line with our stated strategy and positions K&S to capitalize on our strengths in equipment manufacturing and further cement our position as the leading supplier of interconnect solutions," commented Scott Kulicke, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of K&S. "Orthodyne is a fast growing, profitable market leader and provides us with deeper penetration into the discrete side of the semiconductor market, particularly in the attractive power management and hybrid module markets."

(Washington, DC) Some of the most influential and competitive organizations in the renewable energy industry have now joined together to create the first trade association for organizations that market renewable energy. The Renewable Energy Marketers Association (REMA) has formed to vigorously promote the economic and national security benefits of domestic renewable energy.

Finish copper fabricator Luvata intends to improve its supply chain with the prospect of economic recovery. The company anticipates that the market will recover by the end of Q1 2010 and recognises that it needs to prepare so as to regain market share. Senior Vice President of procurement Bob Kickham said that once the market starts to recover, copper prices may increase again. Given the ongoing fears of substitution toward aluminium, a more streamlined and efficient supply chain will provide considerable support to copper.

"The competitive landscape of the market presents a very interesting picture. The market is witnessing new product launches and large scale collaborations, and agreements and partnerships, across the value chain, with a number of tier-one players around the globe. "

"According to recently published TechSci Research report "India Power and Distribution Transformers Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2020" the market for power and distribution transformers in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% during 2015-20."

"The new facility will serve both the internal market sustaining the infrastructural energy development project in Romania, and the export market further qualifying Romania as an excellence hub to serve the most advanced international markets. Completion of the project and beginning of production is scheduled for July 2015."

That plastic pipe systems continue to gain market share through supplanting competing pipe materials such as copper, concrete and steel due to easy and low cost installation as well as long term performance, Stephen Boros who is also VP Engineering for Pipelines Plastics, LLC explained. "In North America, these inherent advantages are now further supported by the development of the shale oil and gas industry. This development not only benefits the energy market but also represents a more secure long‐term supply and cost advantage from a power costs to raw materials stand point. Technology transfer will undoubtedly propel the growth of demand for plastic pipe systems in other world markets."

Another of the many specialised niche markets for copper.

In an interview during the annual CESCO week, Luvata's VP of metals sales Ian Scarlett said that the current warehousing activities are causing distortions to the LME's function as a market of last resort. The VP said he would like to see premiums reflect current market conditions and that some market players could distort the system, adding that the "copper value chain is broken." Mr Scarlett said that it is "not logical" for premiums to be rising during this current period of an increasing market surplus.

"Global demand for insulated cable and wire is forecast to expand 8.3% p.a. between 2014 - 2018. Azerbaijan, China, Lithuania, Turkey, and the United States are considered the highest potential markets in the coming years."