The leading Japanese EAF-based steel producer Tokyo Steel has announced another price increase in its domestic scrap purchase prices, this time for the Okayama and Kyushu regions. This is the third price increase announced by the producer this month, supporting the expectations that the local Japanese scrap market will remain strong in terms of prices and demand in the coming days.
The general range for Tokyo Steel’s H2 grade scrap purchase prices has moved up on the upper end by JPY 1,000/mt to JPY 37,000-43,000/mt ($245-284/mt) depending on the mill. The Takamatsu region still represents the lower end of the general range, though the upper end is now represented by the Kyushu plant. Taking into account exchange rate changes, the dollar-based prices have moved up by $3/mt on the lower end and by $9/mt on the upper end as compared to the levels announced on October 10.
Meanwhile, the shindachi scrap prices of Tokyo Steel have also increased by JPY 1,000/mt on the upper end to JPY 38,000-44,000/mt ($251-291/mt) delivered, down by $2/mt on the lower end and up by $5/mt on the upper end in US dollars. The prices shared in the table below are effective as of October 17.
| Plant | H2 scrap | Shindachi | ||
| Price (JPY/mt) | Price change (JPY/mt) | Price change (JPY/mt) | Price change (JPY/mt) | |
| Tahara | 42,000 | 0 | 44,000 | 0 |
| Nagoya | 41,500 | 0 | - | - |
| Okayama | 42,500 | +500 | 43,500 | +500 |
| Kansai | 41,000 | 0 | - | - |
| Takamatsu | 37,000 | 0 | 38,000 | 0 |
| Kyushu | 43,000 | +1,000 | 44,000 | +1,000 |
| Utsunomiya | 41,000 | 0 | 42,500 | 0 |
| Tokyo Bay | 42,000 | 0 | - | - |
$1 = JPY 151.23