Emergently Imported Zinc Eases Japan Users’ Material Shortage Concern

Temporary supply shortage of electrolytic zinc is slightly eased in Japan since emergently imported zinc arrived in Japan this week. The imported zinc is delivered to market dealers and traders. Zinc dealers and users are relieved of a concern on serious material shortage due to domestic zinc smelters’ closedown after Japan Earthquake. Meanwhile, some of users seem confused by unaccustomed specs of alternate zinc.

Japanese major smelters and trading houses moved to emergent zinc import to cover material supply shortage after the Earthquake. Alternate zinc was mainly delivered from bonded warehouses in Shanghai at total 30,000-50,000 tonnes. The ingots are produced by smelters of Australia, South Korea, Thailand, India, Mexico and other countries, those which are listed in London Metal Exchange (LME).

One metal ingot dealer around Osaka said zinc users’ panic orders decreased after the arrival of imported zinc. Some of the users are said to hold surplus ingot since they placed several orders to several suppliers.

Some of the users are confused to use imported zinc ingot with unaccustomed shapes and qualities. In another case, a consumer complains the firm cannot publish Inspection Certificate because some of the imported zinc ingot represented less than 99.995% purity of LME standard at component analysis.

It is said that there are a plenty of electrolytic zinc inventories in bonded warehouses of Shanghai. Other zinc import from Namibia and Peru is also scheduled.