In May this year, Japan's industrial production increased by 2.3 percent from the previous month, and decreased by 1.8 percent compared to the same month in 2018, 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 May the Japanese iron and steel production index decreased by 5.1 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index was down by 0.8 percent in May compared to April. Meanwhile, in May Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments increased by one percent and iron and steel inventories were up by 0.8 percent, both compared to the previous month.
According to the ministry's Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Japanese industrial production is expected to decrease by 1.2 percent in June and to rise by 0.3 percent in July, both on month-on-month basis. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to increase by 3.6 percent in June and to decrease by 0.7 percent in July, month on month.