According to the Japan Iron and Steel Association (JISF), it is expected that Japan’s steel production and exports will increase in the financial year 2018-2019 which begins on April 1, 2019.
Following the downturn in 2018, crude steel production in the financial year 2019 is expected to be slightly higher than the previous year as demand from machinery and automotive sectors remain strong.
JISF foresees that demand from abroad should remain strong and Japan’s steel exports will increase in the next financial year despite the concerns about the USA-China trade war and slowdown in the economies of developing countries, while Japanese steel imports are likely to remain flat in the coming financial year.