According to the customs statistics released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, the country's total iron and steel product exports in December 2009 amounted to 3.85 million metric tons, increasing by 17.9 percent month on month and up 46.5 percent compared to December 2008, generating a total of $3.48 billion in value. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports in December dropped by 21.7 percent over November and decreased by 18.7 percent year on year to 473,008 metric tons, reaching a total value of $539.87 million.
On the other hand, in 2009, Japan's total iron and steel product exports slid 9.7 percent to 34.44 million metric tons, while its iron and steel product imports amounted to 4.61 million metric tons, declining 42.2 percent, both compared to 2008.
Regarding Japan's major export markets, in 2009 the country's iron and steel product exports to South Korea totaled 9.83 million metric tons, increasing by 5.9 percent, exports to China amounted to 6.47 million metric tons, declining by three percent, the export volume to Taiwan reached 3.37 million metric tons, down nine percent, exports to Thailand totaled 2.99 million metric tons, decreasing by 35.5 percent, while exports to the US came to 1.15 million metric tons, decreasing by 28.9 percent, all compared to 2008.
In 2009, Japan imported 1.92 million metric tons of iron and steel products from South Korea, decreasing by 32.7 percent, it imported 833,259 metric tons from China, down 55.6 percent, while imports from Taiwan came to 626,803 metric tons, decreasing by 26.7 percent, all compared to the previous year.
