Japanese Rare Metal Import Steadily Recovers in February

Japanese rare metal import volume represented year-to-year increase for 14 items of the trade statistics by Ministry of Finance in February. The import increased for rare metals used as electronic materials such as rare earths and indium. Several items represented 2-digit year-to-year increase since the demand was at the bottom level in February 2009 due to domestic inventory adjustment. Meanwhile, the actual demand for rare metals has recovered to 80% level of the peak.

Rare earth import was 356 tonnes in February, 6 times of a year earlier. The import increased for metallic neodymium and other permanent magnet materials applied to cars and electric appliances. The import also increased for rare earth oxide. The import volume of cerium oxide and yttrium oxide tripled from a year earlier, used as polishing agents of liquid crystal panels. Lanthanum oxide increased by 6 times and tantalum (potassium fluorotantalate) increased by 6 times, used for capacitors and optical glasses.

Indium import tripled from a year earlier, a material for transparent electrode of liquid crystal panels. Japanese sputtering target material makers keep active material procurement after they finished the inventory adjustment in autumn 2009. Liquid crystal television demand is strong in China.

On the other hand, the import of some rare metals still shows weak. Molybdenum concentrate increased by 36% to 1,966 tonnes in February from a year earlier, used for steel making. However, the import had exceeded 3,000 tonnes per month at the peak level.