Japan Electrolytic Copper Foil Makers Offer Hike in May and June

Japanese electrolytic copper foil makers are offering price hike to the users in domestic and Asian offshore markets. Mitsui Mining & Smelting, Nippon Mining & Metals and Furukawa Circuit Foil announced price hike for May and June shipment. In Asian market, the 3 makers achieved the hike for May shipment and the price increased by US$ 0.8-1.0 to US$ 10-11 per kilogram compared with April shipment for commodity level foil with 35 micrometers thickness. In domestic market, they failed to raise the price for May shipment when printed circuit laminate makers, the main users of electrolytic copper foil, disapproved the hike.The 3 foil makers aim to pass material cost expansion on the selling price. Copper price at London Metal Exchange sharply surged up from mid April to early May and Japanese market price of no.1 copper wire, copper scrap used as a material for electrolytic copper foil, followed the trend. Copper foil makers are suffered from higher cost price for no.1 copper wire.In Asian market, Mitsui Mining & Smelting raised its selling price by US$ 0.8 to above US$ 10 per kg effective for May shipment for 35-micrometer thick copper foil. The firm seeks additional hike by US$ 1.0-1.5 for June shipment. Nippon Mining & Metals raised the selling price by US$ 1 to US$ 10.5-11.0 per kg for May shipment and offers additional hike by US$ 1.4-1.5 for June shipment. Furukawa Circuit Foil achieved the hike by US$ 0.8 to around US$ 10.3 per kg for May shipment and seeks additional hike by US$ 1.3-1.5 for June shipment.In Japanese domestic market, Furukawa Circuit Foil failed to raise its selling price for May shipment although the firm offered the hike to all domestic users after Japanese official copper ingot price exceeded 1,000 yen per kg. The firm tries to achieve the hike for June shipment. Nippon Mining & Metals is also facing difficulties in the price negotiation with domestic users. The background seems that domestic copper foil users have failed to raise their selling price of printed circuit laminate and cannot accept the cost up for copper foil.