In June this year, Japan's cold rolled sheet and strip shipments decreased by three 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 549,538 metric tons in June, while 52 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, and the remaining 48 percent were made to the export markets.
In the first half of the year, Japan's cold rolled sheet and strip shipments amounted to 3.3 million metric tons, decreasing by three percent on year-on-year basis.
Meanwhile, in June, Japan's CR sheet and strip inventories increased by two percent from the previous month, to 670,722 metric tons, down 13 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 June was JPY 82,000/mt ($1,046/mt), stable compared to the previous month and down JPY 5,000/mt ($63.8/mt) year on year.
In the month in question, Japan's CR sheet and strip output totaled 559,923 metric tons, increasing by one percent over May and down seven percent year on year. In the first half of the year, Japanese CR sheet and strip output was 3.3 miilion mt, down six percent compared to the first half of 2011.