Japan did not import any silicon metal from Vietnam in February and March,
while shipments from China showed a sharp rise last month following the removal
of an export tax in January, Japanese customs data released last Friday
showed.
Vietnam does not produce any silicon metal and what it exported to Japan
was believed to be of Chinese origin. Traders said silicon metal from China was
shipped to Vietnam illegally without payment of the 15% export tax, but this
could not be confirmed with official sources.
"After the 15% export tax was removed, there was no need to send the
material [via] Vietnam as Chinese suppliers could sell their metal in the
international market at competitive prices," a Japanese trader explained.
While Japan's imports from Vietnam wound down to nil over February-March,
its imports from China jumped from 10,190 mt in January to 12,260 mt in March, according to customs data.