According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in April this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.06 million metric tons, decreasing by 20.8 percent month on month and down 9.5 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 275.5 billion ($3.47 billion), down 20.75 percent compared to March and down 12.7 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 9.4 percent to 189,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 7.2 percent to 19,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 14.9 percent to 480,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East fell by 3.3 percent to 98,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries fell by 7.8 percent to 883,000 metric tons, all compared to April 2011.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 610,621 mt in April this year, decreasing 6.7 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 67.9 billion ($855 million).