Japan Smelters to Raise Copper Output in 2H

Japanese copper smelters plan to increase the output in the second half of fiscal 2006 ending March 2007 according to 8 smelters’ output plan announced by Friday. Pan Pacific Copper, which is joint venture of Nippon Mining & Metals and Mitsui Mining & Smelting, plans to increase the copper output by 15% to 307,500 tonnes from same period of 2005. Sumitomo Metal Mining also increases the output under the expansion at Toyo smelter and refinery. With limited availability of raw materials, they plan to reduce output for zinc and lead. Pan Pacific Copper announced on Friday the firm plans to increase the copper output by 18% to 220,400 tonnes at Nikko Smelting & Refining in second half of fiscal 2006 from same period of last year. The firm completes the expansion and modernization works including restructuring of refineries, conversion to treat low grade ore and introducing of ISA permanent cathode system. The firm plans to increase the output by 2% from estimated 215,100 tonnes in the first half. Hibi Kyodo Smelting increases the copper output by 10% to 87,100 tonnes in the second half from same period of last year after ISA process introduction for the second electrolytic copper making facility without plan for maintenance. The higher output increases the output for the parent companies of Furukawa and Nittetsu Mining. Mitsubishi Materials reduces the lead output by 14% in the second half from same period of last year under less availability of waste battery. Toho Zinc will keep the output at 42,000 tonnes by increasing use of ore. Sumitomo Metal Mining plans lower output of zinc in the second half under unfavorable ore supply condition. Dowa Holdings will increase the zinc output by 45% to 78,276 tonnes in the second half from same period of last year after the firm increased the interest in Akita Zinc. Toho Zinc also increases the output by 25%.