Japan’s copper imports gained by 29pc to 18,750mt in April this year, from 14,560mt in the prior-year period and up 11pc from 16,857mt a month ago.
The three-month copper contract on LME rose 89.07pc to settle at $9,939.5/mt on April 30, from $5,258.5/mt year ago. However, industries have managed to maintain their production levels this year. Despite the whopping price rise driven by global economic recovery, Japan’s copper imports have gained in April from the prior-year period.
The copper imports from Thailand stood at 3,993mt in April, up 50pc from April 2020, and 4pc down from 4,144mt a month ago,
Copper imports from Saudi Arabia were at 2,863mt, 48pc more from 1,937mt in April 2020 and a jump of 141pc up from 1,189mt a month ago.
Japan imported 1,607mt of copper scrap from the US in April, down by 17pc from 1947mt last April and 9pc down from 1,757mt in March this year.