TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Japan's exports of refined zinc surged to 11,712 tonnes in November, up 64 percent from a year earlier, driven by a three-fold jump in exports to China, customs-cleared data showed on Tuesday. Exports to China increased to 3,578 tonnes, up from 1,191 tonnes a year before, replacing Taiwan as the top importer of Japan's refined zinc and accounting for about 30 percent of total exports. Zinc is mainly used as an anti-corrosive coating in galvanised steel production and in plating. Japan's zinc smelters lost nearly 70 percent of their output capacity after the March 11 earthquake due to damage to facilities, but production has since recovered. Following is a breakdown of exports (in tonnes): Type Nov 2011 Oct 2011 Nov 2010 Jan-Nov 2011 Jan-Nov 2010 SHG 6,636 4,034 2,977 33,990 37,598 PW 5,076 4,744 4,157 4,901 51,618 TOTAL 11,712 8,778 7,134 38,891 89,216 NOTE: Figures for Prime Western include high-grade zinc. SHG denotes special high grade. (Reporting by Yuko Inoue; Editing by Michael Watson)

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