Japan Recovers 7.8% More Metals from Used Catalyst in F2010

Japan Catalyst Recovering Association reported Japanese industry recovered 51.4 billion yen of precious metals and rare metals from waste catalyst in fiscal 2010 ended March 2011, which was 7.8% higher than fiscal 2009 level. The value increased due to higher price for precious metals including palladium. The metal recovery was 211.9 billion yen from other sources including electronic materials, dental alloy and sludge than catalyst, which was 6.8% higher than fiscal 2009 level, due to higher price for rare metals.

Precious metals represented 91% of recovered metal from waste catalyst in fiscal 2010. The recovered ingot volume decreased by 3% to around 46 tonnes from fiscal 2009 while the value increased by 57% to 46.9 billion yen. Palladium contributed the higher value when the price increased by 75% in yen and the recovered volume increased by 14%.

Japanese consumption of catalyst palladium, platinum and rhodium increases in Japanese automotive exhaust system. The industry increases palladium consumption instead of higher priced platinum.

Precious metals represented 91% in value of recovered metals from other sources than catalyst in fiscal 2010. The value increased by 15% to 193.3 billion yen from fiscal 2009 while the recovered volume decreased by 39% to 207 tonnes.

Recovered rare metals value from other sources than catalyst increased by 35% to 17.4 billion yen in fiscal 2010 from fiscal 2009. The volume also increased by 35% to 2,759 tonnes including gallium, indium, selenium, lead and tin. Recovered tin was 1,693 tonnes, which increased by 21%, while the recovered value increased by 74% due to 44% higher price.