Lead Scrap Market Price Slightly Surges in Tokyo

Lead scrap market price surged by 2-5 yen per kilogram around Tokyo on Monday when Mitsubishi Materials raised its electrolytic lead selling price, the market indicator, by 27,000 yen to 265,000 yen per tonne. Scrap dealers purchase high grade lead scrap at around 100-110 yen per kg, electrode plate scrap at around 95-115 yen per kg and typographic lead scrap at around 75-80 yen per kg.

Secondary lead ingot demand is steady from brass bar makers in active operations. Most of local secondary lead smelters still hold material inventories for a-few-month consumptions. Meanwhile, some smelters show willingness to approve the current market price upsurge because lead scrap generation keeps low. The smelters now pay around 125-130 yen per kg to purchase high grade lead scrap.

Market supply of electrode plate scrap and used battery keeps very tight, those which are the materials for automotive battery’s electrodes. However, the market price levels off due to the demand downturn from South Korea and the end of the demand season in winter. Secondary lead smelters pay around 50 yen per kg for used battery, even 55 yen at maximum for large lot transaction.