In October this year, Japan's industrial production increased 0.1 percent from the previous month, while output fell by 1.3 percent from October 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 October the Japanese iron and steel production index rose by 0.2 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased by two percent in October compared to September. Meanwhile, in October Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments increased by 8.1 percent and iron and steel inventories were down by 0.2 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 4.5 percent in November and to fall by 0.6 percent in December this year, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to fall 1.7 percent in November and to rise by 4.5 percent in December this year, month on month.