Japan Ferrous Scrap Consumption Increases by 1.3% in August

Japanese steel makers’ ferrous scrap consumption increased by 1.3% to 3.15 million tonnes in August from July, which increased for 6 consecutive months, according to Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry. The demand for ferrous scrap is gradually increasing thanks to crude steel output recovery. The consumption was 2.732 million tonnes in May, 2.888 million tonnes in June and 3.109 million tonnes in July.

Converters’ scrap consumption increased by 6% to 10,800 tonnes in August from July. Electric furnaces’ consumption increased by 2.7% to 1.757 million tonnes. Scrap consumption by castings and other industries decreased by 14.6% to 333,000 tonnes.

Scrap supply increased by 1.5% to 3.108 million tonnes in August from July, which represented month-to-month increase after 2 months. Scrap supply from steel plants increased by 2.4% to 971,000 tonnes while the supply from market including import increased by 2% to 2.071 million tonnes.