Japan’s scrap exports up 28.5 percent in August over July

According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, Japan's ferrous scrap exports totaled 490,900 metric tons in August this year, rising by 28.5 percent month on month and up 2.6 percent compared to August 2010. The country's ferrous scrap exports started to rise slightly in July this year after two months of decrease following the earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan on March 11.
 
In August, Japan's ferrous scrap exports to China increased by 18.8 percent month on month to 233,408 metric tons, while a rise of 5.3 percent was registered compared to August 2010. South Korea imported 248,844 metric tons from Japan in August this year, up 42.9 percent month on month and up 28.8 percent year on year.
 
Meanwhile, in the January-August period of 2011, Japan's scrap exports amounted to 3.3 million metric tons, declining by 25.5 percent year on year.
 
In the first eight months of the year, Japanese scrap exports to China totaled 1.48 million metric tons, while exports to South Korea amounted to 1.76 million metric tons, decreasing by 17.74 percent and down 28.4 percent respectively, both compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.