RE:Word From JapanConfirmed: Nippon Steel Corporation which merged with Sumitomo in 2012 processes mostly all of Rio Tinto’s copper at Kitakyushu smelter. The smelter provides metals for the Toyota and Nissan factories also in Kitakyushu. Prime Minister Suga has ramped up pressure for these two automobile companies to crank out a steady stream of EVs in three phases, 2025, 2030, and 2050 when all gas powered cars will be off the road. For example, Toyota’s EV production per year in Japan will be 25 times higher than the total production from the years 2009-2016. In summery, a lot of cars using a lot of copper.