It is reported that China imported 645,000 tonnes of scrap steel in December 2008, increasing by 81.3% YoY and this is the largest monthly scrap steel import since August 2006.

Among this amount, 241,000 tonnes were from America up by 4.6%, and this is also the largest amount in two years and nine months. 203,000 tonnes were imported from Japan, rising by 3.3%, the largest amount in three years and three months.

In the whole year of 2008, China imported a total of 3.59 million tonnes of scrap steel, increasing by 5.8% the first growth in four years. Japan had been the largest supplier, offering 708,000 tonnes, surging 39.6%, and it accounts for 39.6% of China's total import volume of scrap steel. The followers were America, Spain, etc.

(Sourced from MySteel.net)