According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in March this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.86 million metric tons, increasing by 20.9 percent month on month and down 4.8 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 347.6 billion ($4.27 billion), up 25.5 percent compared to February and down 3.5 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 0.6 percent to 242,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 56.7 percent to 30,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 23 percent to 529,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East rose by 58 percent to 256,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 7.5 percent to 1.07 million metric tons, all compared to March 2011.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 634,517 mt in March this year, decreasing 0.7 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 67.36 billion ($828.2 million).