Lead Scrap Price Keeps Flat in Tokyo

Lead scrap market price keeps flat around Tokyo. Scrap dealers set their purchasing price unchanged although Japanese official lead ingot price seems to be revised up by more than 10,000 yen per tonne due to the upsurge of overseas lead market. The market price is at 145-155 yen per kilogram for high grade lead scrap, at 80-120 yen per kg for lead electrode plate scrap, at 135-145 yen per kg for typographic lead scrap and at 85-105 yen per kg for low grade lead scrap.Lead spot price at London Metal Exchange was US$ 2,650.5 per tonne at settlement on 25 January, up by US$ 71 from the previous day and by US$ 110 from 23 January along which Japanese domestic official lead price was previously revised. However, LME lead price has fluctuated roughly in the range for US$ 2,480-2,680 since the beginning of this year. Scrap dealers are cautiously watching the market condition.Scrap dealers around Tokyo are purchasing lead battery scrap with outer cases at around 30-50 yen per kg though they once offered more than 100 yen last year. Dealer source said the price competition is calming down even though the battery supply still keeps tight. The background is that secondary lead smelters, the main users of lead battery scrap, are currently increasing the sales for the export.