Japan’s local ferrous scrap market in the Osaka area keeps the firmer tone, because the electric steelmakers in the area responded to the spot price just before the Obon holidays or the several days’ holidays in the middle of August. The Okayama Plant of Tokyo Steel Mfg. Co, the price leader of the industry in the area, keeps the purchase price unchanged for around one month since July 9. But each electric steelmaker in the area raised the purchase price independently.