Japanese 8 nonferrous metals smelters announced the production plans for first half of fiscal 2012 started April by Friday. The copper making 6 smelters plan to increase copper production by 25% from same period of fiscal 2011 when Pan Pacific Copper, Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Materials plan major production increase. The zinc production increases by 8%.
Pan Pacific Copper announced on Friday the firm increases the copper production by 5% to 278,000 tonnes in the first half from same period of fiscal 2011. The firm increases the production by 3% to 184,600 tonnes at Saganoseki and Hitachi smelters and by 8% to 93,300 tonnes at Hibi Kyodo Smelting. Zinc production recovered from damage by the major earthquake in 2011. Sumitomo Metal Mining shifts to recycled materials based zinc production at Harima plant while the plant stopped lead production. Toho Zinc stopped Annaka plant for around 2 months to save electricity cost during summer time.