In January this year, Japan's industrial production decreased 0.8 percent from the previous month, while output rose by 3.2 percent from January last year, according to the preliminary indices of the Industrial Production report published by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
On the other hand, in January the Japanese iron and steel production index rose by 2.1 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index decreased by 1.4 percent in January compared to December. Meanwhile, in January Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments increased by one percent and iron and steel inventories were up by 0.7 percent, both compared to the previous month.
According to the ministry's Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Japanese industrial production is expected to increase by 3.5 percent in February and to fall by five percent in March, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to rise 1.7 percent in February and to diminish by 3.8 percent in March, month on month.