Japan's scrap steel exports fell 7.4 percent in the first half of 2026

Japan's ferrous scrap exports totaled 589,719 tons in June this year, up 5.1 percent from 561,006 tons in the same month the previous year, according to customs statistics. In the first half of this year, the country exported 3.54 million tons of scrap, down 7.4 percent from last year.

During the period, Vietnam was the largest importer of Japanese scrap, importing 1.51 million tons, down 9.8 percent from last year. Vietnam was followed by Bangladesh and South Korea, which imported 797,148 tons and 179,390 tons of scrap, up 23.5 percent and down 11.3 percent, respectively, year-on-year.

Japanese scrap exports to Thailand stood at 287,642 tons between January and June this year, up from 116,257 tons that year. the same period of the previous year.

I graduated from Boğaziçi University with a degree in Translation and Interpretation. I have been working in the steel industry for three years as a content specialist at SteelOrbis, focusing on plant investment, steel technology and import/export statistics.