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Japanese crude steel exports dropped by 3.3% in August compared to the same period of last year due to the increase in local demand. The Japan Iron & Steel Federation announced that exports, which account for one-third of Japanese steel output, amounted to 2.64 million mts in the mentioned period. August steel exports were also 14.5% lower than previous month’s figure. Japanese steel consumption started to show an upward trend as the economy grows. Further, demand for the material used in vehicles, construction and electrical appliances increased. Japanese steelmakers JFE Holdings Inc. and Nippon Steel Corp. are producing at full capacity to meet demand. Exports to China, Japan’s largest export market after South Korea, were recorded as 447’000 tons with a decrease of 15.2%. Sales to South Korea were also down by 7.8% to 606’000 tons.