UPDATE 1-Japan Dec rolled copper output up 17.1 pct yr/yr

TOKYO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Japan's output of rolled copper products rose to 68,006 tonnes in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, up 17.1 percent from a year earlier, preliminary data showed on Friday.

The figure represents a 1.4 percent decrease from November, the Japan Copper and Brass Association said.

For a graphic on output of rolled copper products, click:

http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/0110/JP_CPRRLD0110.gif

Japan's consumption of copper plunged after late 2008, as the global economic crisis forced manufacturers to cut production.

Japan's copper wire and cable shipments last year likely fell to their lowest level in more than 30 years, as demand from some key sectors remained weak, data showed on Thursday.

Industry officials say that demand has now returned to about 80 percent of peak years, but most say consumption is unlikely to make a full recovery this year, given worries about the strength of Japan's economy.

Demand for industrial metals is likely to shift to other Asian countries, most notably China, which made a solid recovery in 2009, the head of the Japan Mining Industry Association told a news conference on Thursday.

China easily beat its 2009 growth target after a blistering fourth-quarter performance that set the stage for further monetary tightening and put it on course to overtake Japan to become the world's second-largest economy.

(Reporting by Miho Yoshikawa; Editing by David Dolan)

(([e-mail]; [phone]; Reuters Messaging: miho.yoshikawa.reuters.com@reuter s.net)) Keywords: JAPAN COPPER/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. 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.