Mitsui Mining & Smelting Seeks 20-30 yen/kg Higher Brass Rolling Charge

Mitsui Mining & Smelting seeks 20-30 yen per kilogram of higher rolling margin for brass strip and flat products. The firm already started the negotiation with users and tries to realize the higher price as early as possible to cover higher cost for energy, freight and subsidiary materials when the firm cannot cover the wide cost up only by own effort. The firm tries to increase the rolling margin only for loss making items indicating mainly for brass products line. The firm makes flat and strip products of brass, oxygen free copper, tough pitch copper and phosphorus deoxidized copper at Saitama plant, which made around 4,000 tonnes per month last year. Brass products represent around 60% of the output. Japanese largest copper flat and strip maker, Mitsubishi Shindoh already announced the higher rolling margin while other makers including Hitachi Cable, Furukawa Electric, Dowa Metaltech and Kiyomine Metal Industry also try to increase the margin. Nippon Mining & Metals also indicates potential rolling margin hike.