Reuters reported that Japanese copper wire and cable shipments rose 3% in October from a year earlier to an estimated 60,700 tonnes.

An industry body said that Japan's appetite for copper often seen as a gauge of economic activity and already weak in the wake of the global financial crisis took a fresh beating after the March earthquake prompted user industries to reduce domestic production.

Data from the Japanese Electric Wire and Cable Makers' Association showed that the October figure was up from a revised 59,171 tonnes in September. Demand from carmakers jumped 21.5% in the third consecutive month of YoY rises while orders from the construction and electrical machinery sectors remained firm but those from telecoms and electric power companies remained subdued.

The industry body said that the October output is the second lowest for the month in the past 35 years following 58,943 tonnes in October 2010.

(Sourced from Reuters)