In March this year, Japan's industrial production decreased 2.1 percent from the previous month, while output rose by 3.3 percent from March 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 March the Japanese iron and steel production index rose by 3.1 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index decreased by 1.7 percent in March compared to February. Meanwhile, in March Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments increased by 0.3 percent and iron and steel inventories were down by 4.2 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 8.9 percent in April and to fall by 3.7 percent in May, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to rise 4.8 percent in April and to narrow by 1.3 percent in May, month on month.