Japan's scrap exports increased by 16% in June

According to Japan Customs data, Japan's scrap exports increased by 16.2% in June compared to the previous month, reaching 604,000 tons, while decreasing by 5.3% compared to the previous year. The increased shipments, driven by competitive pricing, were reflected in export volumes. The leading countries in the country's scrap exports were Vietnam, with a 34.2% increase, and South Korea, with a 57.5% increase. In contrast, exports to Taiwan decreased by 65% ​​compared to the same period last year.

Total scrap exports in the first half of this year amounted to 3.19 million tons, a 7.8% decrease compared to the same period last year. Exports to Vietnam increased by 60.4% to 1.25 million tons, but this increase was not enough to offset declines in other major markets. Exports to Taiwan decreased by 24.3% to around 369,000 tons, while shipments to South Korea decreased by 44.7% to 840,000 tons.

Despite the significant increase in shipments to Vietnam, the overall decline in exports in the first half of the year suggests that Japanese suppliers may need to reassess their strategies to maintain their market share in key regions such as South Korea and Taiwan.