Japanese iron and steel exports up 34.1 percent in November 2009

On the other hand, in the first eleven months of 2009, Japan's total iron and steel product exports slid 13.8 percent year on year to 30.59 million metric tons.

Regarding Japan's major export markets, in November 2009 the country's iron and steel product exports to South Korea totaled 858,750 metric tons, decreasing by 12.9 percent month on month, but up 72.6 percent year on year, exports to China amounted to 542,956 metric tons, declining by 4.3 percent over October and up 16.1 percent year on year, the export volume to Taiwan reached 326,398 metric tons, down 2.8 percent month on month and up 58.5 percent year on year, exports to Thailand totaled 435,970 metric tons, increasing by 5.9 percent over October and up 22.4 percent year on year, while exports to the US came to 87,333 metric tons, decreasing by 37.8 percent month on month and down 9.1 percent compared to November 2008.

In the January-November period of 2009, Japan's total iron and steel product imports came to 4.14 million metric tons, down 44 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.

In November, Japan imported 200,411 metric tons of iron and steel products from South Korea, decreasing by 11 percent over October and down 16.3 percent year on year, it imported 89,068 metric tons from China, up 17.7 percent month on month but down 34.8 percent compared to November 2008, while imports from Taiwan came to 74,927 metric tons, increasing by 25.5 percent over October and up 4.8 percent year on year.