Japan Stainless Scrap Export Hits Record in 1H

Japanese stainless scrap export hit half year record in January-June. The export was 139,800 tonnes, which increased by 28% from July-December 2005 and by 44% from January-June 2005, according to Ministry of Finance. The volume was 24% higher than former record of 112,730 tonnes in July-December 2004. The export was half year record both for China and South Korea in January-June. The export to China jumped to around 8 times of that in January-June 2002. The export to China was 40,640 tonnes in January-June, which increased by 210% from 13,120 tonnes in same period of 2005. The export to China was 29% compared with 12-18% in past 3 years. The export to South Korea increased by 10% to 97,690 tonnes in January-June, which reached 90,000 tonnes for the first time in 3 half years, from 88,780 tonnes in same period of 2005.