Japan Mix Metal Export Increases for China and India

Japanese mix metal export for China maintains steady, which contains copper, brass, aluminium and other scrap complexly. Japanese aluminium scrap export has suspended since late April due to market price upsurge and ship demurrage at Chinese coastal areas. However, Chinese demand for Japanese mix metal continues strong with its reasonable price, said Japanese exporter source. Meanwhile, Japanese mix metal of even lower grade has increased for India since this spring. Mix metal demand is regionally increasing in Asia.

A large scrap dealer around Tokyo has sold mix metal for China at 300-350 tonnes per month during April-June. The sales increased by about 40% from a year earlier. The dealer expects the export in July keeps the level as high as April-June.

Japanese mix metal export price is currently 100-105 yen per kilogram for high grade scrap containing 40-45% copper and less than 3% dust without freight, according to Japanese trader source. The price has surged by more than 40 yen since the beginning of this year. However, mix metal price is still reasonable compared with current primary aluminium price. Chinese scrap consumers, such as secondary aluminium alloy makers, seem positive to utilize mix metal as a profitable material.

Japanese exporter said they receive many offers from secondary aluminium alloy makers all around China while there have emerged orders from India since this spring. Asian demand for mix metal is increasing when aluminium scrap supply is tightening worldwide.

On the other hand, Japanese aluminium scrap export has suspended for late 2 months though the export had expanded during January-April. Japanese secondary aluminium makers restarted scrap procurement in late April and the market price jumped up.