In August this year, Japan's industrial production increased 0.7 percent from the previous month, while output increased by 0.6 percent from August 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 August the Japanese iron and steel production index rose by 0.5 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased by 1.6 percent in August compared to July. Meanwhile, in August Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments decreased by 0.7 percent and iron and steel inventories were up by 1.4 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 2.7 percent in September and to rise by 1.7 percent in October, both on month-on-month basis. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to decline by 1.4 percent in September and to rise by 4.4 percent in October, month-on-month.