Aluminium scrap imports by Japan will decline 9% YoY to reach 35840.2 tonnes in 2017

Japan is buying lesser quantity of aluminium scrap from the international market than it would do three years back. The global trade data shows the archipelagic nation imported only 39427.5664 tonnes of the light metal scrap in 2016, down 41.2 per cent from the previous year.

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The double digit decline in import volume of aluminium scrap could be indicative of the fact that the country is generating a greater volume of the commodity domestically. This is because the Japan Aluminium Alloy Refiners Association has recently made a forecast that the country’s total secondary aluminium demand in fiscal 2017-2018 will rise to 1,657,300 tonnes, up 1.4 per cent year on year.

The above graph shows Japan imported 67092.23 tonnes of aluminium scrap in 2015. Since then the import volume has come down drastically. In 2017, Japan is estimated to import 35840.23 tonnes of aluminium scrap, further down by 9.09 per cent YoY.

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The cost of aluminium scrap imports in Japan has also decreased on a yearly basis. Total aluminium scrap imports was valued at US$116.9 million in 2015, which declined to reach US$65.06 million in 2016. In 2017, the value is estimated to decease further and reach US$57.32.

The overall demand for secondary aluminium alloy sheets, used for beverage cans, is expected to stay flat globally at 201,900 tonnes in fiscal 2017-2018.