In April this year, Japan's industrial production increased by 0.3 percent from the previous month, showing the second consecutive monthly increase, while output fell by 3.5 percent from April 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 April the Japanese iron and steel production index fell by 1.7 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased by 1.4 percent in April compared to March. Meanwhile, in April Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments increased by 1.9 percent and iron and steel inventories were down by 0.3 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 2.2 percent in May and to increase by 0.3 percent in June this year, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to fall 1.9 percent in May and to grow by 1.6 percent in June this year, month on month.