In April this year, Japan's hot rolled plate and sheet shipments decreased by 12 percent on month-on-month basis and were down by five percent on year-on-year basis, amounting to 965,014 metric tons. 71 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 29 percent were made to the export markets, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data.
Meanwhile, in April, Japan's hot rolled strip shipments amounted to 1.1 million mt, decreasing 26 percent compared to March and up five percent year on year. 27 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 73 percent were made to the export markets.
The average domestic price for HR plate and sheet in Japan in April this year was JPY 83,000/mt (approx. $1,038/mt), remaining unchanged compared to the previous month and down by JPY 5,000/mt (approx. $62.5/mt) year on year. The average domestic price for HR strip in the month in question was JPY 66,000/mt (approx. $825/mt), remaining unchanged compared to the previous month and down by JPY 9,000/mt (approx. $112.5/mt) year on year.
In April, Japan's HR plate and sheet output totaled 945,425 metric tons, decreasing by 12 percent month on month and down seven percent compared to April 2011, while its HR strip output amounted to 1.1 million mt, down 20 percent compared to March and up 7.7 percent year on year.