Flat Lead Scrap Price around Tokyo

Lead scrap is flat around Tokyo. The supply is tight while the supply is balanced with the very slow demand. The supply could get short for some items. The market price is around 45-50 yen per kilogram for higher grade scrap, 25-30 yen for battery electrode scrap and 40-45 yen for type scrap.

The generation already got decreasing especially for type lead scrap and higher grade scrap last year. A secondary lead refinery source said the firm gets almost no offer since autumn 2008. Due to the low generation, some dealers’ scrap procurement almost halved.

The dealer aims to build the scrap inventory at current low price though the refineries reduce the scrap purchase under the production reduction.

The generation of battery electrode lead scrap and used battery is around 30% less than a year earlier level while the scrap supply usually increases in demand season for replacement battery, the dealer said. The supply could get short when the generation usually decreases more in spring to summer.