In May this year, Japan's industrial production decreased 2.2 percent from the previous month and by four percent year-on-year basis, according to the preliminary indices of the Industrial Production report published by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
The Japanese iron and steel production index in the month in question increased by 7.8 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased by 0.5 percent in May compared to April. Meanwhile, in May Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments were up 0.8 percent compared to the previous month and rose by 9.1 percent year on year.
On the other hand, according to the ministry's preliminary Current Survey of Production report, in May this year Japan produced 6.77 million mt of pig iron, up 1.5 percent, 8.92 million mt of crude steel, up 0.7 percent, and 8.71 million mt of semi-finished steel, rising by 0.5 percent, all compared to May 2014.
Iron and steel production in Japan is expected to increase by 2.6 percent in June and by 0.7 percent in July, both month on month.