Japan Ferrous Scrap Consumption Increases by 16.9% in F2010

Japanese ferrous scrap consumption increased by 16.9% to 45.515 million tonnes for converter steel, electric furnace steel and casting steel in fiscal 2010 ended in March 2011 compared with fiscal 2009. The consumption increased for the first time in recent 3 years along output recovery of domestic steel makers.

Ferrous scrap consumption for converter steel increased by 14% to 13.406 million tonnes, according to Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The consumption for electric furnace steel increased by 19.1% to 25.581 million tonnes while increased by 14.3% to 5.448 million tonnes for casting steel.

The quarterly consumption was 11.682 million tonnes for April-June 2010, 11.235 million tonnes for July-September 2010, 11.439 million tonnes for October-December 2010 and 11.158 million tonnes for January-March 2011. The monthly average was around 3 million tonnes.

Japanese ferrous scrap export in fiscal 2010 decreased by 33.6% to 5.95 million tonnes from the previous fiscal year. The export decreased for the first time in current 2 years due to domestic demand increase and yen exchange rate upsurge.