Japan Pb Battery Export Increases by 76.1% for Korea in February

Japanese used automotive battery export increased by 76.1% to 4,974 tonnes for South Korea in February from January, announced by Ministry of Finance. The export volume was the highest level in 10 months while the price was 70.3 yen per kilogram, which was only 0.4 yen higher than the figure in January. Japanese dealers held the inventory with expectation for higher selling price but the dealers apparently liquidate the material under slow price increase.

The dealers increased the export for South Korea in February when lead ingot price hit US$ 2,200 per tonne at London Metal Exchange in late January, which was the highest level in 5 months. But the export price was same level as January.

Japanese secondary lead ingot makers cannot secure enough lead battery. The makers’ purchase price is lower than the export price for South Korea. South Korean battery import decreased by 43.2% to 7,740 tonnes from the main source of USA in February from January, according to South Korean statistics. South Korean users could increase the import from Japan to cover slow supply from USA.