Japan Copper Import Increases in April

Japanese import of electrolytic copper (cathode copper) increased to 14,355 tonnes in April, 2.5 times than a year ago, according to Ministry of Finance. The unit price of imported electrolytic copper surged by 24.9% to 728.6 yen per kilogram in April from a year ago.The electrolytic copper import from Chile, the largest copper supplier to Japan, was 7,401 tonnes in April, 2.2 times than a year ago. The import from Indonesia increased to 4,627 tonnes in April 2007 from 37 tonnes in April 2006 when Indonesian smelters were under regulated operations due to an accident in Grasberg mine.The import of primary aluminium ingot increased by 15.2% to 175,880 tonnes and alloyed aluminium ingot kept flat in April from a year ago. The demand maintains favorable from domestic secondary aluminium alloy makers. Aluminium scrap import decreased by 20.7% and aluminium alloy scrap downed by 21.9%.