Japan Rare Earth Import Rises by 5.4% in January

Japanese rare earth import increased by 5.4% to 821 tonnes in January from a year earlier, according to Ministry of Finance. The demand increases for rare earth magnet mainly for neodymium-ferrum-boron magnet in automobile and hard disc driver. The import unit value doubled to 3,402 yen per kilogram.The indium import decreased by 17.1% to 29 tonnes in January from a year earlier when the demand was slow for indium tin oxide under adjustment in the flat panel display market. The import unit value decreased by 14.2% to 86,375 yen per kg.The lithium import decreased by 2.2% in January from a year earlier. The strontium import increased by 41.3%. The vanadium import increased by 50.2% to 308 tonnes. The titanium import increased by 9.6% to 297 tonnes.