Japan’s scrap export tender slips in June

The monthly export tender of Japanese scrap dealer co-operative Kanto Tetsugen for June settled lower compared with May but remained above recent market levels, providing support to the export market and prices.

The June tender concluded at an average of ¥51,364/t ($327.20/t) fas for 25,000t of H2 scrap, a fall of ¥1,226/t from May. This brought the fob price to an equivalent of ¥52,364/t or $333.60/t. The first 10,000t settled at ¥51,510/t with the second 15,000t at ¥51,267/t. The two shipments are expected to head for Vietnam and Bangladesh.

Several market participants expect the export market to be supported, despite the tender result concluding lower against May, as it was above recently traded levels. The export market has faced significant downwards pressure over the past month, with the H2 fob price falling by ¥2,400/t because of sluggish demand and low price expectations from Taiwanese and Vietnamese buyers.

The Argus H2 fob Japan assessment was ¥50,200/t on 12 June, while the May monthly average was ¥51,381/t fob Japan.

The latest tender price aligns with the domestic price in the Kanto region, which may become the new target price for exporters. The H2 collection price at Tokyo Steel's Utsunomiya plant was ¥51,500/t delivered to the steel mill.