Weak Ferrous Scrap Price in Tokyo

Ferrous scrap market price would decrease from 29,000 yen per tonne for H2 grade, 30,800 yen for H1 grade and 32,500 yen for HS grade at the dealers’ purchase including freight around Tokyo.

Local electric furnace steel makers’ purchase price is 34,500-35,500 yen per tonne for H2 grade, which is 500-1,000 yen lower than last week.

The dealers’ scrap shipment decreased due to tight supply and electric furnaces’ purchase price reduction. Local electric furnaces’ scrap inventory seemed to decrease after operation from holidays through Monday. However, one trader source sees the makers are cautious about purchase at higher price with expectation before maintenance outage.

Ferrous scrap market price is flat at around 28,000 yen for H2 grade around Osaka and local electric furnace steel makers pay 36,500-37,500 yen for H2 grade.

Tokyo Steel Manufacturing reduced ferrous scrap purchase price on July 14 and 16. Himeji based Yamato Steel followed the price cut. Local electric furnaces keep the purchase price unchanged around Osaka. However, dealer source sees the price could decrease due to slow demand from the maintenance outage by the makers. The dealer source sees slow demand would be balanced to tight scrap supply due to Japanese holidays in mid August. However, the source sees the price is unlikely to increase.