In June this year, Japan's industrial production increased 1.6 percent from the previous month, while output rose by 4.9 percent from June 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 June the Japanese iron and steel production index rose by 1.2 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index decreased by 0.4 percent in June compared to May. Meanwhile, in June Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments increased by 3.3 percent and iron and steel inventories were down by 4.4 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 0.8 percent in July and to rise by 3.6 percent in August, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to grow 0.1 percent in July and to rise by two percent in August, month on month.