Japan's galvanized sheet output down 13.5 percent in Apr from Mar

In the first four months of this year, Japan's galvanized sheet output amounted to 3.98 million mt, up 2.13 percent compared to the same period of 2013. In April, the country's galvanized sheet output decreased by 13.54 percent compared to March and was down 0.27 percent year on year, amounting to 938,321 mt, according to data from the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).
 
In the first four months of the current year, Japan's galvanized sheet shipments increased by 1.69 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. The country's galvanized sheet shipments amounted to 3.97 million metric tons, while 72 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, and the remaining 28 percent were made to the export markets. In April this year, Japan's galvanized sheet shipments amounted to 927,666 mt, decreasing by 12.69 percent compared to March and down 4.88 percent from the same month last year.
 
Meanwhile, in April Japan's galvanized sheet inventories rose 1.09 percent month on month to 1.02 million metric tons, and were up 3.96 percent year on year. 62 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 38 percent were held by steel traders.