Mitsui Mining & Smelting to Expand Zinc Smelting Business

Mitsui Mining & Smelting tries to improve the zinc smelting business. The firm considers annual 10,000 tonnes or around 14% expansion of electrolytic zinc output at Hikoshima Smelting in Yamaguchi. The firm tries to improve the cost competitiveness of Hachinohe Smelting in Aomori, which produces distilled zinc, by increasing the consumption rate of secondary raw materials including electric furnace dust and zinc residue from current near 40% to 50%.The firm produces electrolytic zinc at Kamioka Mining & Smelting in Gifu with annual 67,000 tonnes of output capacity. The firm has total 141,000 tonnes of the output capacity including Hikoshima Smelting.The electrolytic zinc is used mainly for galvanizing steel, in which the main application is high grade automotive products. The electrolytic zinc consumption will increase when Japanese steel makers try to expand the galvanizing capacity to meet higher demand.Mitsui Mining & Smelting considers around 10,000 tonnes of output increase at Hikoshima Smelting with 74,000 tonnes of annual output capacity. The firm didn’t decide the expansion including the investment cost though the expansion needs conversion for all process including electrolysis facility. The firm also studies concentrate procurement to expand the output.