According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in August this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.65 million metric tons, decreasing slightly by 0.3 percent month on month and up 5.5 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 289.4 billion ($3.7 billion), down 5.4 percent compared to July and down 8.3 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 19.1 percent to 179,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 51.7 percent to 18,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 13 percent to 520,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East rose by 18.7 percent to 189,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 20.1 percent to 1.2 million metric tons, all compared to August 2011.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 635,524 mt in August this year, decreasing 2.9 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 66.8 billion ($855.7 million). Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 12.3 million mt, up slightly by 0.2 percent year on year, with a value of JPY 134.9 billion ($1.7 billion), falling 20.3 percent compared to August 2011.