Japan Ferrous Scrap Consumption Exceeds 30MT in 2006

Japanese domestic ferrous scrap purchasing volume increased by 7% to 30.331 million tonnes in 2006 over the previous year, which exceeded 30 million tonnes for the first time since the survey started in 2002, according to The Japan Ferrous Raw Material Association. Domestic ferrous scrap demand expanded thanks to good crude steel production by steel makers. The purchase volume increased in all areas of Japan in 2006 from 2005 except for Tohoku area. The purchase volume increased by 132,000 tonnes to 801,000 tonnes in Hokkaido area in 2006 from 2005, by 604,000 tonnes to 7.067 million tonnes in Kanto area, by 23,000 tonnes to 1.218 million tonnes in Hokuriku area, by 160,000 tonnes to 5.078 million tonnes in Tokai area, by 454,000 tonnes to 8.145 million tonnes in Kinki area, by 262,000 tonnes to 3.568 million tonnes in Chugoku and Shikoku area, by 424,000 tonnes to 3.131 million tonnes in Kyusyu area, while decreased by 74,000 tonnes to 1.323 million tonnes in Tohoku area.