Japan Annual Import of Indium and Rare Earth Decreases in 2007

Japanese annual import of indium decreased by 15.2% to 368 tonnes in 2007 from 2006, which is used mainly for transparent electrode of liquid crystal panels, according to the trade statistics by Ministry of Finance. Domestic users decreased new procurement of indium with surplus stocks. Import of rare earths decreased by 1.4% year-on-year in 2007 despite of strong demand. Domestic users seemed to minimize procurement volume since rare earth prices surged up.Domestic demand for indium-tin-oxide (ITO), a material for transparent electrode, seemed to recover in and after summer 2007. However, sputtering target material makers, the main users of ITO, held plenty of indium stocks and decreased new procurement. Another background was that sputtering target material makers used recycled indium more in 2007 than in 2006.Demand for rare earths was strong in Japan in 2007, mainly for neodymium and dysprosium which are applied to permanent magnets. Rare earth magnets are more used for small motors in vehicles and electronic appliances. On the other hand, rare earth supply became tight in 2007 when China, the world largest producer of rare earths, regulated its export volume. International prices of rare earths surged up and some users decreased procurement volume.