In November last year, Japan's industrial production decreased by 1.1 percent from the previous month, while output rose by 1.4 percent compared to the same month last year, according to the preliminary indices of the Industrial Production report published by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
On the other hand, in November the Japanese iron and steel production index increased by 0.6 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index was up by 0.8 percent in November compared to October. Meanwhile, in November Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments decreased by 5.6 percent and iron and steel inventories were down by 1.5 percent, both compared to the previous month.
According to the ministry's Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Japanese industrial production is expected to decrease by 0.8 percent in January and to rise by 2.2 percent in December, both on month-on-month basis. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to rise by 2.9 percent in December and to increase by one percent in January, month on month.