In February this year, Japan's industrial production increased two percent from the previous month, while output rose by 4.8 percent from February 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 February the Japanese iron and steel production index rose by 1.8 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased by 1.9 percent in February compared to January. Meanwhile, in February Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments decreased by 0.5 percent and iron and steel inventories were up by two 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 two percent in March and to rise by 8.3 percent in April, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to fall 5.5 percent in March and to grow by 8.2 percent in April, month on month.