II:Japan's Zinc Exports Rose 64% In November 2011, Leaded By China
Japan's exports of refined zinc surged by 64% to 11,712 tonnes in November 2011 on y-o-y basis, driven by a three-fold jump in exports to China, as per Chinese customs-cleared data.
Exports to China increased to 3,578 tonnes in 2011, up from 1,191 tonnes a year before, replacing Taiwan as the top importer of Japan's refined zinc and accounting for about 30%of total exports.
Zinc is mainly used as an anti-corrosive coating in galvanized steel production and in plating. Japan's zinc smelters lost nearly 70% of their output capacity after the March 2011 earthquake due to damage to facilities, but production has since recovered.
