Japan, Ferrous Scrap Purchasing Volume Increases by 6.8% in 2007

Japanese ferrous scrap purchasing volume by domestic consumers increased to 32.409 million tonnes by 6.8% in 2007 from 2006, according to Japan Ferrous Raw Material Association. The purchasing volume hit the record for 2 consecutive years when ferrous scrap demands are increasing with rising Japanese crude steel.The purchasing volume increased in all area except for Hokuriku area. The volume increased by 9.9% to 880,000 tonnes in Hokkaido area in 2007 from 2006, by 17.4% to 1.554 million tonnes in Tohoku area, by 2.3% to 7.229 million tonnes in Kanto area, by 5.2% to 5.342 million tonnes in Tokai area, by 5.4% to 8.587 million tonnes in Kinki area, by 14.3% to 4.08 million tonnes in Chugoku and Shikoku area, by 13% to 3.538 million tonnes in Kyusyu area while decreased by1.5% to 1.2 million tonnes.