Japanese cathode copper import almost tripled to 11,963 tonnes in Augustfrom a year earlier, according to the trade statistics by Ministry of Finance. Japanese copper smelters and traders significantly increased cathode copper import after the Japan Earthquake due to a concern on domestic supply shortage along suspension of operation of a major smelter and a refinery. The import hit record 33,737 tonnes in May and kept high volume until August.
The primary aluminium ingot import represented year-on-year increase for the first time in 5 months. Aluminium alloy ingot also represented first year-on-year increase in 4 months. Automakers have boosted car production since August. Then Japanese importers increased aluminium and aluminium alloy procurement. The import of rectified zinc with 99.99% or more purity represented first year-on-year decrease since February 2011. The import expanded to 12 times at 29,792 tonnes in April from a year earlier due to suspension of several domestic smelters after the Japan Earthquake. After that, domestic supply and demand balance rapidly loosned. Refined lead import increased to more than triple from a year earlier in April and May along temporary domestic supply shortage while the import turned to year-on-year decrease in June and July. The import returned to year-on-year increase in August.
