Outflow of resources from Japan focusing on end-of-life vehicles

In order to examine the risk to resource security in Japan, this paper quantifies the outflow of base metals (iron, aluminum, copper, lead, and zinc) through export of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) from Japan from 1988 to 2005 using the Trade Statistics of Japan and vehicles composition data. Estimates were also made for engine-related rare metals (manganese, nickel, chromium, and molybdenum), under statistical restrictions. This analysis shows that 24% of iron, 38% of aluminum, 13% of copper, 53% of lead, 11% of zinc, and 38% of rare metals in ELVs in Japan were not recycled and flowed out of the country, mostly in the form of used vehicle and parts. The destinations of these metals were mainly developing countries with rudimentary recycling technology. These results strongly indicate that many metal resources that could be utilized domestically from automobiles in Japan were instead scattered and lost overseas.