In April this year, Japan's industrial production increased one percent from the previous month, showing a month-on-month increase for the first time in three months, while on year-on-year basis Japan's industrial output showed a decrease of 0.1 percent, 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 decreased by 0.1 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased by one percent in April compared to March. Meanwhile, in April Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments were up 0.4 percent and iron and steel inventories remained stable, both compared to the previous month.
On the other hand, according to the ministry's preliminary Current Survey of Production report, in April this year Japan produced 6.4 million mt of pig iron, down 2.1 percent, 8.4 million mt of crude steel, down 6.1 percent, and 8.2 million mt of semi-finished steel, down 5.7 percent, all compared to April 2014.
Iron and steel production in Japan is expected to increase by 0.5 percent in May and to decrease by 0.5 percent in June, both month on month.