Out of curiousity I looked up the penalties for a 57€++ K fare for TRS-KIX published in December:
Code:
** RULES DISPLAY ** TAX MAY APPLY
SURCHG MAY APPLY-CK RULE
08DEC19**08DEC19/LH TRSOSA/NSP;TS/TPM ...../MPM 7605
LN FARE BASIS OW EUR RT B PEN DATES/DAYS AP MIN MAX R
36+KNNZJEU 57 K NRF B31MAY E17OCT 7+ 6+ 3M R
O19DEC -
FCL: KNNZJEU TRF: 44 RULE: 1PEU BK: K
PTC: ADT-ADULT FTC: XPV-INST PURCH NONREF 2ND LVL
PE.PENALTIES
CANCELLATIONS
ANY TIME
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE -
WAIVERS MUST BE EVIDENCED BY DEATH CERTIFICATE.
REFUND PERMITTED BEFORE DEPARTURE IN CASE OF
REJECTION OF VISA. EMBASSY STATEMENT REQUIRED.
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PAGE 1/ 4
REFUND RULES APPLY PER PRICING UNIT.
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WHEN COMBINING NON-REFUNDABLE FARES WITH
REFUNDABLE FARES
1. THE MOST RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION CONDITION
APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE PRICING UNIT.
2. THE HIGHEST CANCELLATION PENALTY WITHIN THE
PRICING UNIT WILL BE CHARGED.
-----------------------------------------------
REFUND OF UNUSED TAXES PAID TO THIRD PARTIES
PERMITTED.
EXCEPT FOR TAXES THAT ARE LEGALLY NON-REFUNDABLE.
PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGES APPLICABLE TO
US AIRPORTS WITH TAX CODES- US/ZP/XF ARE
REFUNDABLE
WHEN THE FARE IS REFUNDABLE AND NON-REFUNDABLE
WHEN THE FARE IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
GERMAN AVIATION SECURITY CHARGE IS POTENTIALLY
REFUNDABLE FOR TRANSFER
PASSENGERS ARRIVING FROM US/ CA OR ME HAVING
TRANSFER IN FRA TERMINAL 1 WITH NO ADDITIONAL
PAGE 2/ 4
SECURITY CHECK BY FEDERAL POLICE IN FRA.
REFUND OF UNUSED YQ NOT PERMITTED.
REFUND OF UNUSED YR NOT PERMITTED.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES LH/LX/OS/SN DCC - DISTRIBUTION
COST CHARGE- SHOWN AS YR ON THE TICKET.
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THE OPTIONAL PAYMENT CHARGE IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
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SHOULD THE FARE FOR THE ACTUAL FLOWN TRAVEL BE
HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL PAID FARE AMOUNT THE
FARE DIFFERENCE MUST BE CALCULATED.
-----------------------------------------------
ANY ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE
AMOUNT FROM A PREVIOUS TICKET REMAINS NON
REFUNDABLE AND WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD TO ANY
REISSUED/EXCHANGED TICKET.
CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHANGES NOT PERMITTED.
PAGE 3/ 4
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE -
REISSUE/REVALIDATION/EXCHANGE/NO-SHOW NOT
PERMITTED.
REFER TO REFUND SECTION IF APPLICABLE.
-----------------------------------------------
WAIVERS MUST BE EVIDENCED BY DEATH CERTIFICATE.
-----------------------------------------------
RULES FOR CHANGES APPLY BY FARE
COMPONENT/DIRECTION.
-----------------------------------------------
IN CASE OF FARE COMBINATION CHARGE THE HIGHEST
FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS.
-----------------------------------------------
IN CASE OF SUBSEQUENT REISSUE/EXCHANGE THE
ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE FARE - OR REFUND PENALTY
AMOUNT REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE.
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PAGE 4/ 4
It seems the sentence the OP got in the end of the cancellation was to cover LH from having to refund the remaining taxes and surcharges. Some of it probably lost in translation.