In September this year, Japan's industrial production decreased by 1.1 percent from the previous month, while output fell by 2.9 percent from September 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 September the Japanese iron and steel production index declined by 5.2 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index was down by 3.6 percent in September compared to August. Meanwhile, in September Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments decreased by 8.8 percent and iron and steel inventories were up by 1.4 percent, both compared to the previous month.
According to the ministry's Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Japanese industrial production is expected to increase by six percent in October and to fall by 0.8 percent in November, both on month-on-month basis. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to rise by 3.9 percent in October and to decrease by 0.7 percent in November, month on month.