Costa Rican scrap exports surge in 2011

Costa rica – According to data from Costa Rica’€™s national trade agency Procomer, the country’€™s scrap exports totalled 272 900 tonnes last year – a jump of 58% when compared with 2010. The overall value of this trade climbed 44.4% to US$ 38.7 million. The main destination for Costa Rica’€™s overseas shipments was South Korea, which increased its purchases from 27 800 tonnes in 2010 to 146 600 tonnes in 2011. Other major buyers in 2011 were Taiwan (64 400 tonnes), Guatemala (17 600 tonnes) and Ecuador (7200 tonnes). Both the USA and China reduced their imports of Costa Rican scrap, the former from 2900 tonnes to 944 tonnes and the latter from 4800 tonnes to 1300 tonnes.