On-site survey on Japan's secondary metal industry

Against the backdrop of China's "emission peak" and "carbon neutrality" policies, the secondary metal industry is gradually receiving more widespread attention. The Chinese government has introduced many preferential policies for the secondary metal industry in recent years. However, the development also faces problems, such as tight domestic raw material supply and high import dependence. The global secondary metal industry has been impacted in the past few years by factors such as the epidemic, geopolitical crises, and equipment iterative upgrades, which is facing a reshaping of its pattern.

Mysteel, the China Technical Innovation Strategic Alliance of Renewable Resources (CIAR), and the Non-Ferrous Metals Society of Shanghai (SNTA), jointly organized an on-site survey of the secondary metal industry in Japan from June 16 to June 23, 2023. The survey involved major recycling and dismantling enterprises, traders, and industrial parks of secondary metals in Japan.

To summarize:

Japan's metal scraps recycling and processing system is more complete, and the supply of raw materials is more stable. Local appliances, cars, cables, etc. must be scrapped within a specified time limit by relevant regulations. Moreover, formal invoices will be issued during recycling transactions.

Japanese smelters also have a demand for secondary metals, especially for high-grade raw materials, and have offered more competitive prices compared to export trade. Although there are lower recycling costs in Japan, higher management and labor costs have greatly offset this advantage, resulting in frequent export losses.

Secondary metal plays an important role in economic globalization, environmental protection, and sustainable development, its industrial prospects are broad and optimistic. With the gradual improvement of relevant regulations, it is expected that the industrial system will develop more smoothly in China.

Mysteel released a report with more details about this survey and these companies. If you would like to get the whole report and join this kind of on-site survey, please do not hesitate to contact us via. xuzhongping@mysteel.com 

Written by Edenlis Huang, huangting@mysteel.com

Edited by Paula Xu, xuzhongping@mysteel.com