Export of Copper Increase Rapidly in 2005

Japanese copper containing scrap export exceeded 400,000 tonnes hitting record in 2005, announced by Ministry of Finance on Tuesday. The export was also the record at more than 13,000 tonnes mainly for brass turning scrap for South Korea. The export of copper, brass and bronze increased. The export unit value increased by 50 yen per kilogram for most of the items under the surging international market. The copper scrap export increased by 29% to 424,326 tonnes in 2005 from 2004. The large volume scrap including no.2 copper wire was shipped for China where the separating charge is much cheaper with the manual labor than Japan. The scrap export unit value increased to 109.5 yen per kg from 72.5 yen in 2004. The copper scrap export increased especially for South Korea in 2005. The grade is estimated to be brass turning scrap when Japanese consumption was slow for the grade. The export of cathode copper increased by 33% to 218,109 tonnes in 2005 from 2004. The export of crude copper and electrorefining anode copper increased by 45% to 11,799 tonnes. The electrolytic copper export increased due to higher production in Japan. The export of lead scrap decreased by 55% to 8,900 tonnes in 2005 from 2004. The domestic circulation of lead scrap decreased after the export of waste automotive battery surged for Vietnam since the start of End-Life Vehicle Recycling Law in January 2005. The lead scrap export unit value increased to 34 yen per kg from 24.8 yen in 2004.