OSAKA -- Daikin Industries, Japan's top air conditioner maker, will halve the amount of copper used in air conditioners from the current 90,000 tons per year by fiscal year 2024, Nikkei has learned.
The international price of copper has risen by 40% to 50% in the past year amid expectations for an economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Decarbonization trends have meanwhile spurred the change to electric vehicles, which require copper for their components. In response to the increased pressure on profits, Daikin plans to use more materials like aluminum, ahead of other companies.
