Japan Indium Import Down in 1H

Japanese indium import decreased by 16.2% to 186 tonnes in January-June 2007 compared with the corresponding period of 2006, according to the trade statistics by Ministry of Finance. The demand was stagnant for indium-tin-oxide target materials applied to transparent electrode of flat panel displays.The import of rare earths decreased by 7.7% in 1H from a year earlier. The users seem to have procured sufficient inventories in 2006 when Chinese government had strengthened the regulation on its rare earth export, though the demand is active for neodymium-iron-boron magnet.The import of tantalum, titanium and vanadium increased in 1H from a year earlier. The tantalum import increased by 15.2% which is recently used more for capacitors. Titanium demand is active for airplanes and plants. The vanadium import increased by 16% which is mainly used for steel making.