Japanese steel exports down 16.7 percent in April over March

According to the customs statistics released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, the country's total iron and steel product exports in April this year amounted to 3.51 million metric tons, decreasing by 16.7 percent month on month and up 62.8 percent compared to April 2009, generating a total of $3.49 billion in value. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports in April improved by 34.8 percent over March and were up 128.8 percent year on year to 695,541 metric tons, reaching a total value of $743.26 million.

Regarding Japan's major export markets, in April the country's iron and steel product exports to South Korea totaled 885,100 metric tons, decreasing by 23.1 percent month on month and up 31.4 percent compared to April 2009; exports to China remained unchanged as compared to March and amounted to 674,238 metric tons, up 35.7 percent year on year; the export volume to Taiwan reached 300,449 metric tons, down 29.9 percent month on month and climbing by 43.8 percent year on year; exports to Thailand totaled 373,901 metric tons, decreasing by 12.5 percent over March and up 263.2 percent compared to the year-ago period; while exports to the US came to 123,442 metric tons, increasing by 8.5 percent month on month and up 244.7 percent year on year.

In April, Japan imported 228,763 metric tons of iron and steel products from South Korea, up 3.9 percent over March and up 83.5 percent year on year, it imported 135,381 metric tons from China, increasing by 51.5 percent month on month and up 116.8 percent year on year, while imports from Taiwan came to 72,452 metric tons, improving by 21.3 percent over the previous month and up 39.5 percent year on year.