Reuters reported that Japan's exports of refined zinc surged 44% from a year earlier to 12,273 tonnes in December as exports to China more than doubled.

Customs cleared data showed that. Exports to China increased to 4,504 tonnes up from 1,753 tonnes a year before accounting for a third of Japan's 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 11 earthquake due to damage to facilities but production has since recovered.

(Sourced from Reuters)