In June this year, Japan's industrial production decreased 0.1 percent from the previous month, showing a decrease for the third consecutive month. Domestic industrial output showed a decrease of two percent from June in the previous year, according to the preliminary Indices of Industrial Production report published by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
In June, the Japanese iron and steel production index increased 2.4 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index decreased 3.3 percent in June compared to May. Meanwhile, in June Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments fell by 6.2 percent and iron and steel inventories were up by 0.7 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 4.5 percent in July and to decrease 0.6 percent in August, both month on month.