Japanese 6 copper smelters plan to increase the output by 5% to 762,267 tonnes in second half of fiscal 2011 ending March 2012 from same period of fiscal 2010. The production increases by 23% from the first half with the major earthquake damage. Domestic 5 zinc smelters plan to increase the output by 15% to 311,639 tonnes in the second half from same period of fiscal 2010.
Pan Pacific Copper announced on Thursday the firm plans to increase the copper output by 3% to 272,400 tonnes in the second half from same period of fiscal 2010. The output increases by 6% to 182,400 tonnes at Saganoseki smelter and Hitachi plant. The production decreases by 2% to 90,000 tonnes at Tamano smelter for the equity base. Sumitomo Metal Mining plans 199,000 tonnes of copper output in second half of fiscal 2011 as plan as of April. Mitsubishi Materials plans to increase the production. Dowa Holdings plans to increase the zinc output by 46% to 90,003 tonnes in the second half from same period of fiscal 2010. The output increases by 14% to 64,880 tonnes for Toho Zinc and by 12% to 116,900 tonnes while Sumitomo Metal Mining reduces the output by 20% to 34,300 tonnes.