Lead Scrap Price Keeps Flat in Tokyo

Market price of lead scrap keeps flat around Tokyo at 70-80 yen per kilogram for high grade scrap, 40-50 yen per kg for electrode plate scrap, 60-70 yen per kg for typographic lead scrap and 30-40 yen per kg for low grade scrap. Japanese official lead ingot price is expected not to be revised down on 4 November since overseas lead market rebounded at the end of October. The latest scrap market price is almost along the level of the official ingot price, though some scrap dealers disapprove high price purchase offers when market demand for secondary lead ingot is weakening.

Lead settlement at London Metal Exchange declined to US$ 1,140 per tonne on 24 October and recovered to over US$ 1,500 during the last 2 trading days at the end of the month. A source of Japanese secondary lead smelter said there seemed a supportive line at around US$ 1,100. Lead scrap dealers and smelters are relieved with an expectation lead price would not continue plunging more and more.

Meanwhile, the demand for high grade secondary lead ingot is decreasing from lead tube and plate makers. A source of secondary lead smelter said lead scrap generation is low while smelters hold surplus scrap inventory. Secondary lead smelters pay more than 90 yen per kilogram for high grade lead scrap but some tend to regulate new procurement.

Demand for used lead batteries is weak in both volume and price especially from South Korea. The market price is around 15 yen per kg and some of domestic secondary smelters pay as high as 25 yen.