In August this year, Japan's cold rolled sheet and strip shipments decreased by 4.2 percent compared to the previous month and were up by three percent on year-on-year basis, amounting to 474,000 metric tons. 53.4 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 46.6 percent were made to the export markets, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data.
Meanwhile, in the given month, Japan's CR sheet and strip inventories increased by 9.7 percent from the previous month to 733,000 metric tons and were down 3.2 percent year on year. 71.9 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 28.1 percent were held by steel traders.
In August, Japan's CR sheet and strip production amounted to 539,000 mt, up 18.5 percent month on month and increasing 1.1 percent year on year.