In November this year, Japan's industrial production decreased by one percent from the previous month, showing a decline for the first time in three months, while output increased by 1.6 percent from November in the previous 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 November the Japanese iron and steel production index decreased by 4.6 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index fell 0.1 percent in November compared to October. Meanwhile, in November Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments decreased by 4.5 percent and iron and steel inventories were down by six percent, both compared to the previous month.
On the other hand, according to the ministry's preliminary Current Survey of Production report, in November this year Japan produced 6.67 million mt of pig iron, down 3.9 percent, 8.74 million mt of crude steel, decreasing by 4.8 percent, and 8.56 million mt of semi-finished steel, down 4.4 percent, all compared to November 2014.
According to the ministry's Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Japanese industrial production is expected to increase by 0.9 percent in December and by six percent in January next year, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to fall 0.2 percent in December and to increase 1.3 percent in January next year, month on month.