Japan Ferrous Scrap Export Hits Record in 2006

Japanese ferrous scrap export hit record in 2006. The export increased by 1.1% to 7.658 million tonnes from 2005, according to Japan Ferrous Raw Materials Association. The scrap import increased by 2.2% to 185,000 tonnes. The export increased by 17.6% to 3.38 million tonnes to South Korea in 2006 from 2005. The export decreased by 20.2%b to 2.759 million tonnes to China. The export hit record for South Korea and Taiwan while the export decreased to China. The stainless steel scrap export increased to record 296,610 tonnes in 2006 compared with former record of 217,980 tonnes in 2004. The export was second high to South Korea and record to China. The export reached 100,000 tonnes in 2001 for the first time after the increase since 1997. The export doubled in past 5 years.