Japan Steel Makers Scrap Purchase Decreases 2 Consecutive Years

Japanese ferrous scrap purchase by Japanese steel makers decreased by 37.3% to 20.285 million tonnes in 2009 from 2008, which decreased for 2 years in a row, according to Japan Ferrous Raw Materials Association. The purchase volume decreased when the steel makers significantly reduced the output after the global recession in autumn 2008.

Japanese ferrous scrap purchase by steel makers decreased by 51.3% to 3.865 million tonnes in January-March 2009 from same period of 2008, which was the lowest level since the start of the statistics in October-December 1989. The purchase volume was 4.353 million tonnes in April-June and increased to 5.583 million tonnes in July-September. The purchase volume was 6.47 million tonnes in October-December 2009, which increased to more than 6 million tonnes for the first time in a year.