Japan Mix Scrap Export Strong for China, Weak for India

Japanese mix metal scrap export for China maintains high level, which contains copper, brass, aluminium and other scrap complexly. Japanese scrap dealer explains Chinese demand for Japanese mix metal keeps strong due to upward car sales and domestic economy in the country. Meanwhile, the export for India seems widely decreasing for late 3 months. This appears seasonal demand downturn of summer in India.

A major mix metal dealer around Tokyo exported mix metal for China at 300-350 tonnes in July, higher by 40% from a year earlier. The export kept the high level for April-June, too. Most of the export is bound for scrap dealers or secondary aluminium makers in Guangdong area. The export volume in August is expected to keep the level as high as in July.

Mix metal price hit the yearly highest when overseas primary aluminium market rapidly surged from late July to early August. However, the mix metal dealer said Chinese demand maintains strong despite of high mix metal price.

He explained mix metal orders recently come from secondary aluminium makers all around China because supply of nonferrous metal scrap keeps tight for a long time. It is difficult for the dealer to meet all orders when shredder scrap generation is decreasing by 40% compared with the ordinary years.

On the other hand, Indiana demand for Japanese mix metal is widely decreasing. A major scrap dealer around Tokyo, who started scrap sales for India this spring, explained actual demand for mix scrap is weakening when plant operations are lowering due to the long rainy season after June.