Japanese steel exports fall 17.3 percent in April from March

According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in April this year Japan's steel exports came to 3.3 million metric tons, decreasing by 17.3 percent month on month and down 2.5 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 315.8 billion ($3.8 billion), up six percent compared to April 2010.
 
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 48.5 percent to 174,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 28.6 percent to 21,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 15.2 percent to 564,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East dropped by 24.8 percent to 101,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to the ASEAN countries rose by 16.4 percent to 959,000 metric tons, all compared to April 2010.