According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in September this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.53 million metric tons, decreasing by 3.15 percent month on month and up 8.04 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 283.8 billion ($3.7 billion), down 1.95 percent compared to July and down 6.5 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 46.5 percent to 251,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 44.3 percent to 25,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 15.1 percent to 492,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East remained unchanged at 129,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 14 percent to 1.08 million metric tons, all compared to September 2011.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 606,536 mt in September this year, increasing 8.4 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 60.95 billion ($855.7 million). Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 9.63 million mt, down by 16.4 percent year on year, with a value of JPY 107.02 billion ($1.7 billion), falling 31.9 percent compared to September 2011.