Spot copper concentrate processing fees rise after Japan quake

HONG KONG, March 22 (Reuters) - Treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) that Asian smelters receive for converting spot copper concentrates into metal have risen by a third since the Japan quake due to extra supplies, trading sources said on Tuesday.

Spot TC/RCs traded at $120 a tonne and 12 cents a pound this week, up from $110 and 11 cents last Friday and $90 and 9 cents before the Japan quake.

Canada's Imperial Metals Corp said on Monday Mitsubishi , Furukawa and Dowa had declared force majeure on copper concentrate for the Onahama smelter. The Canadian miner is a supplier of concentrate.

(Reporting by Polly Yam)

(Source: http://af.reuters.com/article/metalsNews/idAFL3E7EM13N20110322)