Dowa Holdings to Expand Indium Ingot Output

Dowa Holdings group expands the output capacity of indium ingot, which is used for transparent conductive film of flat panel display. The group can produce maximum 100 tonnes of ingot at the zinc smelting firm, Akita Zinc, which produces annual 50 tonnes of ingot, in fiscal 2007 starting April by using zinc ore with richer indium. The smelter also improved the recycling capacity after conversion. General indium containing zinc ore includes 0.01-0.02% of indium. However, indium rich ore from Bolivia contains 0.2-0.3% of indium. Dowa group will increase the indium output by using several brands of indium rich zinc ores. The firm also improved the recycling capacity. With conversion of existing facilities, the firm improved the yield even very small amount of indium, which the firm cannot recover before. Teck Cominco of Canada increased the primary indium output to 70 tonnes in 2006 from 30 tonnes in 2005. World largest zinc smelter, Korea Zinc increased the indium output to around 55 tonnes in 2006 from 30 tonnes in 2005. However, world indium supply is expected to keep around 500 tonnes in 2007 as 2006 and supply could become tighter due to export restriction by world largest indium producing country of China.