Japan Official Copper Price Rises by 10,000 yen/t

Nippon Mining & Metals announced on Thursday the firm increases the official copper ingot price by 10,000 yen to 520,000 yen per tonne for April shipment. The firm already hiked the price 3 times in the month. The averaged price increases by 4,700 yen to 502,300 yen for April.

The firm reflects higher international copper price when the price increased by US$ 168 to US$ 4,750 per tonne at settlement of London Metal Exchange on Wednesday from previous day. The price was more than US$ 600 higher than the level at previous price change by Nippon Mining & Metals.

LME copper price increased by 70% since recent bottom in December 2008. The market improves when LME copper inventory decreased significantly. However, the demand is still slow in developed countries while Chinese supply is tight.

Copper price increased by 460 yuan to 43,430 yuan per tonne at Shanghai Futures Exchange on Wednesday from previous day. The price without value added tax represented US$ 5,450 per tonne, which is US$ 700 higher than LME price.