In June this year, Japan's industrial production increased by 1.9 percent from the previous month, while output fell by 1.9 percent from June 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 June the Japanese iron and steel production index fell by 1.3 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased by 0.4 percent in June compared to May. Meanwhile, in June Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments decreased by 1.6 percent and iron and steel inventories were up by two 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 2.4 percent in July and to rise by 2.3 percent in August this year, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to rise 1.6 percent in July and to grow by 0.5 percent in August this year, month on month.