According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in November this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.5 million metric tons, increasing by six percent month on month and up 16.4 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 261.5 billion ($3.1 billion), down 4.3 percent both compared to October and on year-on-year basis. In October, Japan's iron and steel product exports had decreased by 5.7 percent on tonnage basis compared to September.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US decreased by 22.3 percent to 140,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU increased by 18.5 percent to 26,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 12 percent to 442,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East increased by 34.2 percent to 157,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 62.5 percent to 1.15 million metric tons, all compared to November 2011.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 681,159 mt in November this year, decreasing 10.6 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 64.2 billion ($759 million), down 31.2 year on year. Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 11.8 million mt, stable compared to October and up by 8.1 percent year on year, with a value of JPY 126.7 billion ($1.5 billion), falling 17.4 percent compared to November 2011.