In May this year, Japan's cold rolled sheet and strip shipments increased by 4.9 percent compared to the previous month and remained stable on year-on-year basis, amounting to 490,000 metric tons. 52 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 48 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 5.7 percent from the previous month to 741,000 metric tons and were up 2.3 percent year on year. 74 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 26 percent were held by steel traders.
In May, Japan's CR sheet and strip production amounted to 530,000 mt, up nine percent month on month and remaining stable year on year.