Japan Copper Production to Rise by 3.5% in 2H F2009

Japanese copper production will increase by 3.5% to 764,000 tonnes in second half of fiscal 2009 ending March 2010 from same period of fiscal 2008, according to production plans by 8 major nonferrous smelters. The lead production reaches 100,000 tonnes for the first time since first half of fiscal 2008.

Pan Pacific Copper announced on Tuesday the firm plans to make 286,000 tonnes of copper in second half of fiscal 2009, which is 1.6% lower than same period of fiscal 2008. The production is 4.3% lower than first half of fiscal 2009 due to maintenance at the Saganoseki smelter.

Pan Pacific Copper’s subsidiary, Nikko Smelting & Refining plans to make 194,800 tonnes of copper at Saganoseki and Hitachi smelters in second half of fiscal 2009, which is 3.6% lower than same period of fiscal 2008 and 5.9% lower than first half of fiscal 2009. Hibi Kyodo Smelting, in which Pan Pacific Copper has interest, plans to make 91,200 tonnes of copper as first half of fiscal 2009.

The lead production by Japanese 5 makers will increase by 4.1% in second half of fiscal 2009 from same period of fiscal 2008. They try to meet higher demand for automobile battery. Japanese zinc production will increase by 1.3% to 284,000 tonnes while the production was 246,000 tonnes in first half of fiscal 2009.