In July this year, Japan's industrial production decreased 0.6 percent from the previous month and by 0.2 percent on year-on-year basis, according to the preliminary indices of the Industrial Production report published by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
The Japanese iron and steel production index in the month in question increased by 6.6 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index rose by 0.3 percent in July compared to June. Meanwhile, in July Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments were up 0.6 percent compared to the previous month and rose by 7.5 percent year on year.
On the other hand, according to the ministry's preliminary Current Survey of Production report, in July this year Japan produced 6.96 million mt of pig iron, up 3.5 percent, 8.84 million mt of crude steel, up 4.8 percent, and 8.67 million mt of semi-finished steel, rising by 4.2 percent, all compared to July 2014.
Iron and steel production in Japan is expected to increase by 2.8 percent in August and to decline by 1.7 percent in September, both month on month.