Lead Scrap Price Keeps Flat in Tokyo

Lead scrap market price keeps flat at around 180 yen per kilogram for high grade lead scrap and at around 145 yen per kg for typographic lead scrap around Tokyo. Lead scrap generation is remarkably decreasing in the region. Scrap dealers are increasing their export when overseas lead scrap market is much higher than domestic market. The price competition is being severer. Especially secondary lead smelters are suffered from less procurement of lead scrap since their selling price of secondary lead ingot is fixed.Lead price stays at over US$ 3,100 per tonne at London Metal Exchange. Overseas secondary lead users pay approximately 300,000 yen per tonne for bullion. On the other hand, Japanese battery makers pay around 250,000 yen per tonne for secondary lead alloy ingot. The prices differ by about 50,000 yen per tonne.Japanese secondary lead smelters might offer price hike against battery makers to compete with overseas secondary lead makers and domestic major smelters.