Asian Lead Supply Chain Changes with No Export from China

China turned to a lead importing country and this transformation causes changes in Asian lead supply chain. Chinese lead export has stopped since June 2008 and Southeast Asian consumers of Chinese lead are suffered from spot supply shortage. Some of Southeast Asian consumers are seeking Japanese smelters to supply lead substantially.Chinese lead export was zero in July 2008 with import at 5,492 tonnes, according to trade statistics by Ministry of Finance. The export was 4,778 tonnes in April, 3,211 tonnes in May and dropped down to 24 tonnes in June. Finally the export stopped in July.Japanese annual lead import was 24,000 tonnes in 2007, 76% or 18,500 tonnes of which came from China. However, during January-July 2008, China represented only 14% or 2,300 tonnes in Japanese import sum at 16,000 tonnes. Japan imported lead the most from Peru at 9,920 tonnes during Jan-Jul 2008.Southeast Asian countries those who had depended on Chinese lead are suffered from supply source disappearing. London Metal Exchange’s lead inventory in Singapore decreased by approximately 10,000 tonnes within August. The background was supposed that these countries withdraw lead inventory to cover supply shortage.A source said Japanese major smelters are offered from Indonesia and Vietnam to supply lead. Japanese lead and lead alloy ingot export totaled 17,300 tonnes during Jan-Jul 2008, which exceeded the import sum at 16,000 tonnes, according to Ministry of Finance.