In 2012, Japan's hot rolled plate and sheet shipments decreased by six percent on year-on-year basis, amounting to 11.17 million metric tons, following the three percent year-on-year decrease recorded in 2011. 72 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 28 percent were made to the export markets, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data.
Last year, Japan's hot rolled strip shipments amounted to 15.8 million mt, up 11.5 percent year on year, following the 11 percent year-on-year increase recorded in 2011. 29 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 71 percent were made to the export markets.
In the fourth quarter of last year, Japan's hot rolled plate and sheet shipments declined to the lowest quarterly level for 2012 and were down 13 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, amounting to 2.6 million mt, while in the period in question the country's hot rolled strip shipments amounted to 4 million mt, up 23 percent year on year and down one percent compared to the previous quarter.
Meanwhile, the average domestic price for HR plate and sheet in Japan in the fourth quarter last year was JPY 74,000/mt (approx. $806/mt), falling JPY 4,000/mt (approx. $43.5/mt) compared to the previous quarter and down by JPY 11,000/mt (approx. $120/mt) year on year. The average domestic price for HR strip in the month in question was JPY 57,000/mt (approx. $621/mt), down by JPY 8,000/mt (approx. $87/mt) compared to the previous quarter and down by JPY 11,000/mt year on year.