Having moved on an upward trend since July last year, Japan’s Kanto scrap export tender has closed with another price increase in the first month of 2026. The total tonnage of the cargo was 20,000 mt, to be shipped to Vietnam or Bangladesh. Over the past month, the Japanese yen has moved from 156.7 against the US dollar to JPY 157.72 as of today, January 12, limiting the increase in the dollar-based price in the tender.
In the Kanto export tender, the highest bid was at JPY 46,771/mt ($296/mt) FAS, up JPY 1,083/mt or $4/mt from last month. The dollar-based price moved up by $4/mt from last month’s $292/mt FAS, taking into account the changes in the Japanese yen-US dollar exchange rate. The FAS prices translate to JPY 47,771/mt FOB or $303/mt FOB, $5/mt higher as compared to last month.
Meanwhile, the market prices in the Kanto area are still at JPY 43,500/mt ($276/mt) FAS. As a result, the difference between the Kanto export and domestic scrap prices has increased to JPY 3,271/mt, from last month’s JPY 2,188/mt, with today’s gap at $20/mt on US dollar basis.
The Tokyo Bay FAS-based prices for H2 grade scrap have remained stable over the past two weeks at JPY 43,000/mt ($273/mt), stable on dollar basis. The FOB-based export price remains at JPY 44,000/mt ($279/mt) for the grade in question, down by $1/mt on US dollar basis.
The Tokyo Bay HS and shindachi grade scrap prices have also moved sideways, at JPY 47,000/mt ($298/mt) FAS, unchanged over the past two weeks.
$1 = JPY 157.72