Japan's domestic iron scrap market is currently entering a complex phase in which expectations of further price increases and sluggish real demand are intermingled. What emerges from the movements of dealers in western Japan is a clear divergence in strategy between blast furnace producers and major electric arc furnace operators, as well as the rising tide of resource nationalism underpinned by economic security concerns. At the same time, the prolonged geopolitical risks in the Middle East are beginning to erode the entire supply chain, and steel manufacturers are facing a dilemma unlike anything they have encountered before.
This article is for members only. You can read the full content after your subscription is confirmed.
