Japan Copper Foil Makers Cut Copper Scrap Purchase Volume

Japanese electrolytic copper foil makers reduce copper scrap purchase volume. They stopped spot scrap purchase and some makers ask scrap dealers to reduce term contract volume. The foil makers reduce the production when the demand slows since late August. Their scrap buying could keep low level through the year when the demand could keep slow.

The foil makers use mainly high grade scrap including No.1 copper wire scrap and copper nugget. A major foil maker around Tokyo didn’t purchase scrap at spot basis in September and October while the maker usually purchases scrap spot basis to complement 3-month term nugget purchase.

Another major foil maker, which mainly uses No.1 copper wire scrap, asked the 2-month term scrap suppliers to reduce the purchase volume in November-December compared with September-October level. A scrap provider said the maker requested to reduce the scrap supply by around 30%.

A major foil maker source said the order receipt started to decrease since late August and current production is around 20% lower than recent peak in July. The demand decreases when the main users of printed circuit board makers started inventory adjustment.

A major foil maker source said the order shows no sign to recover through the year. The maker has no plan to restart the spot scrap purchase while makers usually keep buying term contract scrap.