Japan’s CR sheet and strip shipments fall nine percent in 2011

In December 2011, Japan's cold rolled sheet and strip shipments increased by one percent month on month and were down by 15 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 525,351 metric tons in December, while 54 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, and the remaining 46 percent were made to the export markets.
 
In 2011, Japan's CR sheet and strip shipments amounted to 6.89 million metric tons, down nine percent year on year, while 49 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, and the remaining 51 percent were made to the export markets.
 
Meanwhile, in December, Japan's CR sheet and strip inventories decreased by seven percent from the previous month, falling to 660,571 metric tons, and were down one percent year on year. 68 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 32 percent were held by steel traders.
 
The average domestic price for CR sheet and strip in Japan in December was JPY 86,000/mt ($1,122/mt), remaining unchanged both from the previous month and year on year.
 
In the month in question, Japan's CR sheet and strip output totaled 475,258 metric tons, decreasing by two percent from November 2011 and down 23 percent year on year. In the whole of 2011, Japan's CR sheet and strip output amounted to 6.88 million mt, down nine percent year on year.