According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in August this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.7 million metric tons, increasing by 2.4 percent month on month and up 1.3 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 324.6 billion ($3.3 billion), remaining flat compared to July and up 12.1 percent on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 28.5 percent to 230,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU increased by 53 percent to 27,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 5.4 percent to 492,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East fell by 29.7 percent to 134,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries decreased by 2.7 percent to 1.17 million metric tons, all compared to August 2012.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 638,528 mt in August this year, increasing slightly by 0.5 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 73.4 billion ($743.9 million). Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 11.6 million mt, down by 5.7 percent year on year, with a value of JPY 153.2 billion ($1.55 billion), rising 13.6 percent compared to August 2012.