Japanese Nonferrous Smelters Plan Higher Cu Output in 1H

Sumitomo Metal Mining announced on Monday the firm plans to increase electrolytic copper production by 23.2% to 436,000 tonnes in fiscal 2012 ending in March 2013 compared with fiscal 2011. The production would mark the record volume. The firm plans to raise the output to near capacity at Toyo smelter with annual 450,000 tonnes in order to maximize the profitability.

Toyo smelter in Ehime conducted 3-month repair in September-November 2011, which was the first long-term repair since the operation start in 1971. The smelter relined all refractory. The firm planned 354,000 tonnes of electrolytic copper production for fiscal 2011, which is around 20% lower than the annual output capacity.

Toyo smelter’s output capacity was unchanged at annual 450,000 tonnes after the repair. The firm can increase the operation rate to near the capacity at Toyo smelter in fiscal 2012 thanks to the newer and tougher facilities.

The firm plans to make 41,000 tonnes of electrolytic nickel at Niihama nickel refinery and 22,200 tonnes of ferronickel at Hyuga smelter in fiscal 2012 as fiscal 2011. Niihama nickel refinery schedules each 4-day maintenance in May and November. Hyuga smelter plans 27-day one-line maintenance in May-June and 24-day another-line maintenance in October-November.

The firm plans 45,000 tonnes of zinc production in fiscal 2012, which is 36.4% lower than 70,700 tonnes in fiscal 2011. Harima smelter shifts to use only recycled raw material of oxide ore in fiscal 2012 after the conversion works through the end of April. The firm terminates electrolytic lead production.

Other Japanese nonferrous smelters also announced their output plans in fiscal 2012. Mitsubishi Materials announced on Monday the firm plans monthly 27,758 tonnes of electrolytic copper production for April-September 2012. The production would increase by 23.9% from the same period of fiscal 2011 when the group smelter in Onahama had been suspended after the major earthquake last year. Mitsubishi Materials plans monthly 2,400 tonnes of lead production as a year earlier level. The firm plans monthly 786 tonnes of zinc production, which is 21.1% higher than a year earlier level.

Furukawa announced on Monday the firm plans 46,707 tonnes of electrolytic copper production for April-September 2012, which is 47.9% higher than the same period of fiscal 2011 thanks to the recovery of Onahama smelter.