Ferrous Scrap Price Rises in Osaka

Electric furnace steel makers around Osaka increased the ferrous scrap purchase price to 35,000-36,000 yen per tonne for H2 grade. The makers around Himeji, Hyogo increased the price by 1,000 yen per tonne after mid-June. Kishiwada Steel raised the price for the first time in 2 months. With recovering offshore demand, scrap export price increased to FOB 35,500 yen per tonne, which is 1,000 yen higher than recent bottom. The higher export price attracts shipment from other areas reducing the shipment for Osaka area. Himeji Plant of Godo Steel, Sanyo Special Steel, Himeji plant of JFE Bars & Shapes and Yamato Steel increased the scrap purchase price by 500 yen per tonne on Tuesday. Yamato Steel’s purchase price increased to 35,500 yen per tonne for H2. Local scrap dealers around Osaka reduced the scrap inventory just after the export shipment for joint contract. The scrap shipment decreased to local steel makers after purchase price hike by Himeji’s makers. Osaka’s makers including Kishiwada Steel increased the purchase price on Tuesday. Though local steel makers plan maintenance outage in July, the local supply is expected to keep the balance when integrated steel makers increase the purchase volume and local dealers could export 10,000 tonnes of scrap.