Shipments totalled 61,000 tonnes in October, up from 57,984 tonnes in September, data provided by the Japanese Electric Wire and Cable Makers' Association showed.
For a graphic on copper cable and wire shipments, and a breakdown of the top three industries that buy copper cable click:
http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/119/JP_CPRCBL1109.gif
For a breakdown of the latest data released by the association click:
Shipments to the power industry rose by 15.6 percent year-on-year to 8,100 tonnes, however, the largest volume since 8,427 tonnes in November 2001.
But power and telecommunications were the only two sectors that saw figures rise year-on-year in October.
'The power industry works under a long-term plan, and this rise is not really a reflection of the state of the economy,' an official with the association said.
He said the rise in the October data for these two sectors did not mean that figures would continue to increase.
'If anything they could fall again as construction work tends to slow or halt in the winter in areas where there is heavy snow fall,' he said.
Japan's consumption of copper tumbled from late last year due to the sharp economic downturn which forced manufacturers such as automakers to cut output.
Demand has returned, led by a recovery in the automobile and semiconductor sectors.
Industry officials remain cautious about the outlook, however, as worries persist about the strength of Japan's economic recovery.
(Reporting by Miho Yoshikawa) ((miho.yoshikawa@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3 6441 1854; Reuters Messaging: miho.yoshikawa.reuters.com@reuter s.net)) Keywords: JAPAN COPPER/WIRE (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
© 2009 AFX News