Lead Scrap Price Keeps Flat Despite Weak Ingot Market

Market price of lead scrap maintains flat at 105-115 yen per kilogram for high grade scrap, 65-75 yen per kg for electrode plate scrap, 95-110 yen per kg for typographic lead scrap and 55-70 yen per kg for low grade scrap. Japanese official lead ingot price was revised down by 3,000 yen to 247,000 yen per tonne on 9 June. However, lead scrap price reflected the strong selling stances of scrap dealers due to low scrap generation in the market.Lead settlement price at London Metal Exchange was US$ 1,935.5 per tonne on 6 June, slightly down by US$ 6.5 from the previous day. Japanese official lead ingot price was previously revised on 2 June to reflect LME lead settlement at US$ 1,940 on 30 May. Japanese lead ingot price decreased on 6 June due to the weak tone in LME lead market and the underlying trend of stronger yen against US dollar.Lead scrap generation is remarkably low around Tokyo, especially for lead tube, sheet and typographic scrap. A source of a secondary lead smelter said the smelters should pay the high price offered by the scrap dealers to secure enough materials despite of weak lead ingot price.Some smelters pay as high as 120-125 yen per kg for high grade lead scrap. The highest price is near 150 yen for a large lot. Typographic scrap price is 115 yen and electrode plate scrap price is 80 yen at the highest.