In June this year, Japan's galvanized sheet shipments amounted to 1.02 million metric tons, decreasing by one percent on month-on-month basis and down by four percent compared to June in the previous year, according to data from the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF). 67 percent of the country's galvanized sheet shipments in June were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 33 percent were made to the export markets.
In the first half of the year, Japan's galvanized sheet shipments increased by four percent compared to the first half of the previous year, amounting to 5.98 million mt.
Meanwhile, in June this year Japan's galvanized sheet inventories decreased by two percent month on month to 1.03 million metric tons, and were down three percent year on year. 62 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 38 percent were held by steel traders.
The average domestic price for galvanized sheet in Japan in June was JPY 98,000/mt (approx. $1,251/mt), remaining stable compared to the previous month and down JPY 5,000/mt (approx. $63.8/mt) year on year.
In the month in question, Japan's galvanized sheet output totaled 993,064 metric tons, decreasing by three percent from the previous month and stable on year-on-year basis. In the first half of the year, Japanese galvanized sheet output increased by three percent compared to the same period of the previous year, amounting to 5.99 million mt.