The leading Japanese EAF-based steel producer Tokyo Steel has announced the fourth increase in its domestic scrap purchase prices since the beginning of October, impacting the prices of other steel producers and supporting price increases in the local scrap market. As reported by SteelOrbis earlier today, October 20, Japan-based Tokyo Steel has announced its interim consolidated financial results for the first half ending September 30 of the fiscal year 2025-26. In the first six months, the company produced 1.37 million mt of steel, decreasing by 9.5 percent year on year, while its total steel sales amounted to 1.43 million mt, down by 13.5 percent year on year.
Tokyo Steel’s prices for H2 grade scrap price have moved up by JPY 500-1,000/mt for all regions except for the Kyushu plant. Despite the rises announced, the general range has remained stable on the upper end, settling at JPY 38,000-43,000/mt ($252-285/mt) depending on the mill. The Takamatsu region still represents the lower end of the general price range. The Tahara, Okayama, Kyushu and Tokyo Bay plants now represent the upper end of the general price range. Including the changes in the exchange rates, the dollar-based prices have moved up by $7/mt on the lower end and up by $1/mt on the upper end as compared to the levels announced on October 17.
Meanwhile, shindachi scrap prices of Tokyo Steel have also increased, by JPY 500-1,000/mt to JPY 39,000-45,000/mt ($259-299/mt) delivered, up by $8/mt in US dollars. The prices shared in the table below are effective as of October 21.
| Plant | H2 scrap | Shindachi | ||
| Price (JPY/mt) | Price change (JPY/mt) | Price change (JPY/mt) | Price change (JPY/mt) | |
| Tahara | 43,000 | +1,000 | 45,000 | +1,000 |
| Nagoya | 42,500 | +1,000 | - | - |
| Okayama | 43,000 | +500 | 44,000 | +500 |
| Kansai | 42,000 | +1,000 | - | - |
| Takamatsu | 38,000 | +1,000 | 39,000 | +1,000 |
| Kyushu | 43,000 | 0 | 44,000 | 0 |
| Utsunomiya | 42,000 | +1,000 | 43,500 | +1,000 |
| Tokyo Bay | 43,000 | +1,000 | - | - |
$1 = JPY 150.73
