Japan Steel Accumulation Reaches 1.29 billion tonnes in F2005

Japanese estimated accumulated steel quantity increased by 12.49 million tonnes to 1.292 billion tonnes in fiscal 2005 ended March 2006 from previous year, according to Japan Ferrous Raw Materials Association. The new accumulation was only 12.49 million tonnes in the year when carbon steel output decreased and indirect steel export and ferrous scrap export increased.The accumulation was less than 15 million tonnes in fiscal 2001-2003 compared with the peak of 44.83 million tonnes in fiscal 1990 during babble economy. The accumulation increased to 15.12 million tonnes in fiscal 2004 when steel output and import increased under strong demand for automobile and industrial machinery. Waste ferrous scrap generation decreased by 285,000 tonnes to 26.097 million tonnes in fiscal 2005 from fiscal 2004. The waste scrap recovery rate decreased by 0.05 points to 2.04%.