In February this year, Japan’s hot rolled plate and sheet shipments rose by 11.2 percent compared to the previous month and by 0.6 percent from 750,535 mt recorded in the same month of 2022, amounting to 755,002 metric tons. 68.0 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 32.0 percent were made to the export markets, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data. In the given month, Japan’s hot rolled plate and sheet production amounted to 714,400 mt, declining by 5.1 percent month on month and by 6.5 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, in February Japan’s hot rolled strip shipments amounted to 1.22 million mt, moving up by 0.1 percent from the previous month and by 8.3 percent year on year. 14.6 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 85.4 percent were made to the export markets. In the given month, Japan’s hot rolled strip production amounted to 1.11 million mt, falling by 12.1 percent month on month and by 10.6 percent year on year.