According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in April this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.6 million metric tons, decreasing by 9.75 percent month on month and up 18.1 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 319 billion ($3.2 billion), down 8.3 percent compared to March and up 15.8 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 12.3 percent to 213,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU increased by 26.2 percent to 25,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China increased by 17.6 percent to 546,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East rose by 17.6 percent to 115,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 27.1 percent to 1.1 million metric tons, all compared to April 2012.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 596,729 mt in April this year, decreasing 2.3 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 65.3 billion ($645 million). Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 10.5 million mt, up by 1.6 percent year on year, with a value of JPY 117.5 billion ($1.2 billion), falling 10.1 percent compared to April 2012.