In April this year, Japan's industrial production increased four percent from the previous month, while output rose by 5.7 percent from April 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 April the Japanese iron and steel production index rose by 5.8 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased by 3.3 percent in April compared to March. Meanwhile, in April Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments increased by 1.6 percent and iron and steel inventories were up by 6.1 percent, both compared to the previous month.
According to the ministry's Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Japanese industrial production is expected to decrease by 2.5 percent in May and to rise by 1.8 percent in June, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to fall 3.8 percent in May and to grow by 1.7 percent in June, month on month.