Japan Steel Makers Consume 28 MT of Ferrous Scrap in F2005

Japanese steel makers purchased 28.345 million tonnes of ferrous scrap from dealers in fiscal 2005 ended March 2006, according to The Japan Ferrous Raw Materials Association. The makers purchased 6.501 million tonnes of ferrous scrap during July-September 2005, less than the other quarters, when crude steel production decreased at the makers due to less operating days in summer. The purchasing volume especially decreased by 318,000 tonnes around Osaka in July-September 2005 from the same period of 2004, by 224,000 tonnes in Chugoku and Shikoku area, which lies between Osaka and Kyusyu regions, and by 166,000 tonnes around Tokyo. In October-December total purchasing volume increased to 7.508 million tonnes in response to decreased steel production in summer. The purchasing volume particularly increased by 340,000 tonnes around Tokyo and by 251,000 tonnes around Osaka from the same period of 2004.