According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in June this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.6 million metric tons, decreasing by 8.2 percent month on month and up 2.9 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 304.7 billion ($3.9 billion), down 9.3 percent compared to May and down 5.8 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 24.8 percent to 221,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 49.2 percent to 15,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 14.8 percent to 493,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East rose by 0.9 percent to 120,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 19.8 percent to 1.13 million metric tons, all compared to June 2011.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 619,748 mt in June this year, decreasing 12 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 68.7 billion ($879 million).