In October this year, Japan's industrial production increased 1.4 percent from the previous month, showing a month-on-month increase for the second consecutive month, while output decreased by 1.4 percent from October 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 October the Japanese iron and steel production index decreased by 6.3 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index rose 1.3 percent in October compared to September. Meanwhile, in October Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments increased by 2.7 percent and iron and steel inventories were down by 3.8 percent, both compared to the previous month.
On the other hand, according to the ministry's preliminary Current Survey of Production report, in October this year Japan produced 6.91 million mt of pig iron, down 3.6 percent, 9 million mt of crude steel, down 3.8 percent, and 8.8 million mt of semi-finished steel, down 3.4 percent, all compared to October 2014.
According to the ministry's Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Japanese industrial production is expected to increase 0.2 percent in November and to decrease 0.9 percent in December, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to fall 0.1 percent in November and to increase 2.9 percent in December, month on month.