Japan to Keep 5 Million Tonnes Ferrous Scrap Export, Industry Official

Japanese major scrap dealer, Suzutoku’s president Toru Suzuki said ferrous scrap demand of Japanese scrap has diversified from the major users of domestic electric furnace steel makers since 2000, at international recycle forum by Japan Iron and Steel Recycling Institute (JISRI). The head of international network committee of JISRI said the supply decreased by 10 million tonnes for domestic electric furnace steel makers while the shipment increases for domestic integrate steel makers and export. He said the export could keep annual 5 million tonnes for long term.

Mr. Suzuki said Japanese scrap supply could decrease by 0.8-2.1 million tonnes for obsolete scrap in 2020 from 2008 level due to limited new accumulative steel. Despite of the lower supply, he expects certain level of export when integrated steel makers couldn’t increase the scrap consumption due to limitation of converter temperature and the cost structure.

Mr. Suzuki said estimated around 1.2 million tonnes of scrap generation from damaged areas of the major earthquake in 2011 would impact on the local supply balance. He said the supply would decrease in and after fiscal 2013 starting April 2013 with same level of the local demand. He expects the area would need supply from other area while the area increased shipment for domestic other areas and export after the quake.

JISRI held the forum last week in Kyoto with industry attendees from Japan, China and South Korea. JISRI tries to expand the information exchange between the East Asian countries through the second forum after June 2010.