According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in May this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.6 million metric tons, unchanged month on month and down 8.5 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 329.5 billion ($3.4 billion), up 3.3 percent compared to April and down 1.9 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US decreased by 32.2 percent to 144,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 77.5 percent to 18,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 11.3 percent to 523,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East fell by 26.7 percent to 159,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 5.9 percent to 1.2 million metric tons, all compared to May 2012.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 578,274 mt in May this year, decreasing 12.2 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 68.5 billion ($700 million). Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 13.2 million mt, up by 1.8 percent year on year, with a value of JPY 176.8 billion ($1.8 billion), rising 15.8 percent compared to May 2012.