According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in July this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.66 million metric tons, increasing by 1.7 percent month on month and up 11.4 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 305.9 billion ($3.9 billion), up 0.4 percent compared to June and down 1.9 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 37.3 percent to 194,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 52.7 percent to 24,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China increased by 5.2 percent to 561,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East rose by 31.8 percent to 134,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 19.8 percent to 1.12 million metric tons, all compared to July 2011.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 657,605 mt in July this year, increasing 1.7 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 69.6 billion ($887 million). Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 10.1 million mt, down 11.5 percent year on year, with a value of JPY 112.26 billion ($1.4 billion), falling 32.8 percent compared to July 2011.