Japan Steel Can Recycling Rate Increases to 88.7% in 2005

Japan Steel Can Recycling Association announced on Thursday Japanese steel can recycling rate was 88.7% in 2005, which was improved by 1.6 points from 2004 and updated the high-record after 2 years. The rate cleared the target by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry at over 85% for 5 consecutive years. Japan maintains the world-leading recycling rate.Japanese steel can consumption decreased by 4.4% to 867,998 tonnes in 2005 from the previous year and the recycling amount decreased by 2.7% to 770,250 tonnes. Both volumes decreased from 2004.Ferrous scrap demand increased thanks to worldwide demand expansion for metal resources mainly from China. Japanese steel can recycling rate increased when steel makers maintained stable purchasing for steel can scrap due to its good quality as steel resource.