Asian Metal visits Hitachi Metals, Tokai Trade and TDK Corporation

On 15 October 2018, Vivian Pang, Asian Metal's consultant on rare earth market, visited Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Tokai Trade Co., Ltd. and TDK Corporation in Japan, and exchanged opinions with the above companies on rare earth and NdFeB magnet markets.

On the morning of October 15th, Vivian visited Hitachi Metals Ltd. and communicated with Shimadu Kenichiro, the Manager of Procurement & Value Engineering for Customers Division, on both current Chinese and Japanese NdFeB magnet industries' trend. Shimazu noted that the Japanese NdFeB magnet market has witnessed furious competition so far this year, but Japan's NdFeB magnet output in 2018 is supposed to increase slightly YOY due to the rising demand from the new energy car industry. Shimazu spoke highly of Asian Metal's information service and said Hitachi always take Asian Metal's prices information for reference when they purchase rare earth raw materials from China.

Afterwards, Vivian visited Tokai Trade Co., Ltd. GM of business department and Atsushi Fukumoto, Manager of trade department, showed their warm hospitality. The both sides exchange opinions on the current rare earth supply & demand pattern and the outlook.

In the afternoon, Vivian visited TDK Corporation and met Kohei Yano, Manager of Strategic Sourcing Department, and shared ideas with him about Chinese rare earth price trends and the current Japanese NdFeB magnet situation. According to Kohei, TDK has subscribed AM's information for many years and he checks Asian Metal's rare earth prices every week.