Japanese steel exports enjoy third best year in 2004
Japanese steel exports rose 2.6% to 35.3 million tons in 2004 on the back of increasing shipments to
China,
Thailand and the US, the
Japan Iron and Steel Federation said.
Japanese steel exporters enjoyed their third best year in 2004, following exports of 37.035 million tons in 1976 and 36.323 million tons in 2002.
Exports to
China rose 7.1% to 6.89 million tons, while shipments to
Thailand climbed 7.5% to 3.86 million tons.
Japan exported 1.43 million tons of steel to the US, up 32.4%.
Exports to South
Korea and
Taiwan declined 0.3% and 1.4% to 8.95 and 3.24 million tons respectively.