Japanese iron and steel exports up 60 percent in March

According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in March this year Japan exported 4.18 million metric tons of iron and steel products, up 60.2 percent compared to March 2009. The revenue generated by these exports amounted to JPY 326.7 billion ($3.51 billion), increasing by 18.7 percent year on year.
 
The country's iron and steel product imports in the month in question totaled 493,804 metric tons, rising by 73.6 percent, while these imports amounted to a value of JPY 53.09 billion ($569.6 million), up 29.5 percent, both compared to the corresponding month of 2009.
 
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US decreased by 30.4 percent to 108,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU fell by 1.9 percent to 36,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China increased by 35 percent to 664,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East went up by 93.6 percent to 181,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to the ASEAN countries rose by 133.4 percent to 1,023,000 metric tons, all compared to March 2009.