Japan Nonferrous Smelters Keep Major Production Cut in 1H F2009

Japanese major nonferrous metals smelters continue major production cut in and after April. Sumitomo Metal Mining announced on Wednesday the firm plans to make 200,000 tonnes of electrolytic copper in first half of fiscal 2009 starte4d April, which is as low as second half of fiscal 2008. The firm keeps 20% production cut for ferronickel against the output capacity. Mitsubishi Materials keeps 10% production cut and plans to make around 145,000 tonnes of electrolytic copper in first half of fiscal 2009. They also continue production cut for zinc and lead ingot.

Sumitomo Metal Mining plans to make 200,000 tonnes each in first and second half year in fiscal 2009. The annual production increases by 9% to 401,000 tonnes from fiscal 2008 when the production was slump in fiscal 2008 due to lower ore grade. The firm plans 30 days maintenance from September to October at Toyo smelter and refinery in Ehime. Furukawa plans to reduce the copper production by 12% to 41,350 tonnes in the first half from same period of 2008 while the second half production is 43,290 tonnes.

Sumitomo Metal Mining plans 8,900 tonnes for the first half of fiscal 2009 and 7,900 tonnes for second half for the ferronickel production while the electrolytic nickel production is 13,700 tonnes in first half and 19,500 tonnes in second half compared with the expanded annual production capacity of 41,000 tonnes.

The firm plans 35,300 tonnes of zinc production and 11,500 tonnes of lead production in the first half of fiscal 2009, which is same level and 15% cut from second half of fiscal 2008, and 32,800 tonnes of zinc and 12,100 tonnes of lead in second half. Mitsubishi Materials plans 11,580 tonnes of lead ingot production in the first half, which is as low as second half of fiscal 2008.