According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in February this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.6 million metric tons, remaining stable month on month and up 12.8 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 292.5 billion ($3 billion), rising 9.5 percent compared to January and up 5.6 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US decreased by 17.5 percent to 192,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 57.5 percent to 16,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 15.8 percent to 438,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East fell by 14.5 percent to 124,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 36.4 percent to 1.15 million metric tons, all compared to February 2012.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 491,972 mt in February this year, decreasing 15.3 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 50.4 billion ($525 million). Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 10.6 million mt, up by 10.4 percent year on year, with a value of JPY 115.6 billion ($1.2 billion), falling 5.8 percent compared to February 2012.