According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, the country's ferrous scrap exports totaled 612,202 metric tons in January this year, falling by 5.17 percent month on month and down 4.94 percent compared to January 2009.
In the month in question, China decreased its ferrous scrap imports from Japan by 29.64 percent month on month to 242,127 metric tons, while a drop of 50.15 percent was registered compared to January 2009. South Korea imported 360,863 metric tons from the same source, up 32.9 percent month on month and up 150 percent year on year.
In the given month, scrap exports to China accounted for 32.92 percent of Japan's total scrap exports, while exports to South Korea constituted 58.95 percent of total scrap exports.