In August this year, Japan's cold rolled sheet and strip shipments decreased by six percent month on month and were down by nine percent on year-on-year basis, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data. The country's CR sheet and strip shipments amounted to 541,177 metric tons in August, while 47 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, and the remaining 53 percent were made to the export markets.
Meanwhile, in August, Japan's CR sheet and strip inventories increased by seven percent from the previous month, to 685,045 metric tons, down nine percent year on year. 72 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 28 percent were held by steel traders.
The average domestic price for CR sheet and strip in Japan in August was JPY 82,000/mt ($1,048/mt), stable compared to the previous month and down JPY 4,000/mt ($51.1/mt) year on year.
In the month in question, Japan's CR sheet and strip output totaled 586,873 metric tons, increasing by eight percent over July and down four percent year on year.