In June this year, Japan's cold rolled sheet and strip shipments decreased by 1.6 percent compared to the previous month and declined by 11.5 percent on year-on-year basis, amounting to 492,746 metric tons. 53.2 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 46.8 percent were made to the export markets, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data.
Meanwhile, in June, Japan's CR sheet and strip inventories increased by 1.24 percent from the previous month to 734,696 metric tons and were up 12.5 percent year on year. 72.1 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 27.9 percent were held by steel traders.
In the given month, Japan's CR sheet and strip production amounted to 501,764 mt, down 3.5 percent month on month and decreasing 1.6 percent year on year.