Japan Cathode Cu Export Declines by 17% in 2010

Japanese cathode copper export decreased by 17% to 491,313 tonnes in 2010 from 2009, according to Ministry of Finance. The export to the largest destination of China decreased by 29% to 247,917 tonnes. Japanese smelters tried to secure the domestic shipment even by reducing the export when they reduced the production due to short supply of copper ore.

Japanese copper scrap export decreased by 20% to 286,942 tonnes in 2010 from 2009. The export to China decreased by 8% to 264,061 tonnes due to low scrap generation in Japan, yen appreciation and demand decrease in China.

The aluminium scrap export decreased by 33% to 98,602 tonnes in 2010 from 2009. The overseas users reduced the purchase of higher priced Japanese scrap price. The export to China decreased by 26.8% to 74,139 tonnes.

The export of electrolytic zinc with 99.99% or more purity decreased by 62% to 40,682 tonnes in 2010 from 2009. The exporters increased the export to China in 2009 when the demand was very slow in Japan.