According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in May this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.9 million metric tons, increasing by 30 percent month on month and up 21 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 335.9 billion ($4.2 billion), up 21.9 percent compared to April and up 9.3 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 53.5 percent to 213,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU increased by 129.4 percent to 79,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China increased by 3.5 percent to 590,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East rose by 188 percent to 217,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 21.5 percent to 1.14 million metric tons, all compared to May 2011.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 658,577 mt in May this year, decreasing eight percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 73 billion ($918 million).