According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, Japan's ferroally imports totaled 148,727 metric tons in December 2011, falling by 2.7 percent month on month and down 7.1 percent compared to December 2010.
Meanwhile, in 2011, Japan's ferroally imports amounted to 1.8 million metric tons, decreasing by 3.4 percent year on year.
In 2011, Japan's three main sources of ferroally imports were South Africa, Kazakhstan and China. Imports from South Africa totaled 383,086 metric tons, decreasing by 5.7 percent compared to 2010, while Kazahstan exported 370,678 mt of ferroalloy to Japan in 2011, up 16.4 percent year on year. In 2011, Japanese ferroally imports from China fell by 23 percent compared to 2010 to 339,083 metric tons.