Japan’s HR steel product shipments fall in 2011

In December 2011, Japan's hot rolled plate and sheet shipments decreased by three percent on month-on-month basis and by nine percent on year-on-year basis, amounting to 936,003 metric tons. 70 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 30 percent were made to the export markets, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data.
 
Meanwhile, in December, Japan's hot rolled strip shipments amounted to 1.2 million mt, increasing 19 percent month on month and up two percent compared to December 2010. 31 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 69 percent were made to the export markets.
 
In 2011, Japan's HR plate and sheet shipments totaled 12.1 million mt, decreasing slightly by 0.2 percent, while the country's HR strip shipments were 14.1 million mt, down six percent year on year.
 
In December 2011, Japan's HR plate and sheet inventories decreased by 14 percent over the previous month, falling to 628,576 metric tons, and were down five percent year on year. 79 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 21 percent were held by steel traders. Meanwhile, in the end of December, HR strip inventories amounted to 1.7 million mt in Japan, decreasing two percent from the previous month and up three percent compared to December last year.
 
The average domestic price for HR plate and sheet in Japan in December 2011 was JPY 85,000/mt (approx. $1,107/mt), remaining unchanged compared to the previous month and up JPY 2,000/mt year on year from JPY 83,000/mt. On the other hand, the average domestic price for HR strip last December was JPY 68,000/mt ($885.75/mt), decreasing by JPY 1,000/mt compared to November and up JPY 3,000/mt year on year.
 
In 2011, Japan's HR plate and sheet output totaled 12.08 million metric tons, decreasing by one percent, while its HR strip output amounted to 14.14 million mt, down seven percent, both compared to 2010.