In May this year, Japan's seasonally adjusted industrial production increased 5.7 percent from the previous month, showing a month-on-month increase for the second consecutive month, while it showed a decrease of 5.9 percent compared to the same month last year. According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing published by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japanese industrial production is expected to increase by 5.3 percent month on month in June this year.
Meanwhile, in May the country's iron and steel production decreased by 2.2 percent as compared to the previous month, while producers' iron and steel shipments were down by 5.8 percent and iron and steel inventories were up by 2.5 percent, all compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the country's iron and steel production in May witnessed a decrease of 9.2 percent.
In May, seasonally adjusted crude steel production in Japan increased by 0.3 percent compared to the previous month and was up by 7.4 on year-on-year basis. Producers' crude steel shipments in May were up by 15.6 percent compared to the same month last year.