In October this year, Japan's industrial production increased 0.5 percent from the previous month, while output rose by 5.9 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 1.9 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index decreased by 0.5 percent in October compared to September. Meanwhile, in October Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments decreased by 4.5 percent and iron and steel inventories were up by 5.6 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 2.8 percent in November and to rise by 3.5 percent in December, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to rise 0.5 percent in November and to decrease by 0.3 percent in December, month on month.