Tokyo’s Ferrous Scrap Purchase Prices by Electric Furnace Steel Makers to hit Their Ceilings

Ferrous scrap purchase prices by the electric furnace steel makers in the Tokyo area, Eastern Japan, hit their ceilings for the first time in one month and a half because the scrap price for export remains in the high level and the scrap generation volume is increasing. The price is around 24,000-25,000 yen per tonne for H2. It is expected that the market price will go into the decreasing phase with its narrow range. The price hit the bottom to 22,000 yen per tonne for H2 at the beginning of February. After that, the price rose by 2,000-3,000 yen per tonne or about 11% since South Korean steel makers and Taiwanese steel makers expanded the purchase volume of Japanese ferrous scrap. There was a small amount of the scrap generation in January-February. So the supply and demand became very tight. Consequently, the market price jumped. Nowadays the scrap price for export from Tokyo Bay keeps the high level at 24,000-24,500 yen per tonne for F.A.S. for H2 Overseas steel makers continue to purchase the scrap. However, the scrap supply and demand is easing because the generation volume is increasing. Meanwhile, in the Osaka area, Western Japan, the purchase prices by the electric furnace makers remain unchanged. The price is around 23,000-24,000 yen per tonne for H2. Some higher price of the grade is around 24,500 yen per tonne.