Copper Spot Premium to Japan Jumps and Exceeds US$ 100/t

Electrolytic copper premium to Japanese users keeps high level. The spot premium is currently surging to above US$ 100 per tonne from pre-earthquake US$ 20 since Japanese copper smelter and refinery were downed by Japan Earthquake.

Onahama smelter in Fukushima, controlled by Mitsubishi Materials and other Japanese smelters, and Hitachi works in Ibaraki, operated by Pan Pacific Copper, stopped operations after Japan Earthquake. Onahama smelter had recently produced electrolytic copper at approximately 260,000 tonnes per year. Hitachi works’ output is estimated at 155,000 tonnes per year in fiscal 2010 ended in March 2011.

Copper consumers in East Japan became concerned on ingot supply shortage due to Onahama and Hitachi suspensions. Concerned smelters and large-lot copper users moved to emergent import of electrolytic copper. As a result, the spot premium against Japan jumped to above US$ 100, currently reaching US$ 110. The premium may approach US$ 150 by delivery date and ingot quality requests.

One market source said Mitsubishi Materials and other domestic smelters seem to have covered Onahama and Hitachi’s output reduction by emergent ingot import just after the earthquake. Onahama smelter and Hitachi works are checked and prepared for operative restoration. But it is still unclear when the smelter and the refinery return to normal production. Electrolytic copper supply maintains relatively tight against the demand.