Lead Scrap Price Rises by 10-15 yen/kg in Tokyo

Market price of lead scrap is increasing by 10-15 yen per kilogram around Tokyo when Japanese official lead ingot price was revised up by 26,000 yen per tonne on 7 April. Market price is 155-165 yen per kg for high grade lead scrap, 110-120 yen per kg for electrode plate scrap, 145-155 yen per kg for typographic lead scrap and 100-110 yen per kg for low grade scrap. Lead scrap generation maintains low and scrap collectors are offering higher prices. Profitability is being worse at scrap dealers and secondary lead refineries.Lead settlement at London Metal Exchange was US$ 2,906 per tonne on 4 April, up by US$ 95 from the previous day and by US$ 113 from 31 March along which Japanese official lead ingot price was previously revised. At the same time, foreign exchange rate of yen became weaker from around 100 yen per US dollar to over 103 yen lifting the domestic lead price level. The lead dealers around Tokyo reported they have trouble to secure scrap, especially for high grade scrap including lead pipe and lead flat products due to lower supply. Secondary lead refineries try to purchase the scrap at around 190 per kg but they pay as high as 200 yen depending on the condition.