According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, in March this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 4 million metric tons, rising 12.25 percent month on month and up 4.8 percent as compared to the same month of the previous year, while these exports generated a value of JPY 348 billion ($3.5 billion), almost stable on year-on-year basis.
In the given month, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US decreased by 20.7 percent to 192,000 metric tons, its exports to the EU decreased by 16.9 percent to 25,000 metric tons, while iron and steel exports to China decreased by 0.5 percent to 526,000 metric tons, exports to the Middle East fell by 33.5 percent to 171,000 metric tons, and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 20.7 percent to 1.3 million metric tons, all compared to March 2012.
Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 541,929 mt in February this year, decreasing 14.6 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, with a value of JPY 57.3 billion ($576 million). Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 10.85 million mt, down by 4.8 percent year on year, with a value of JPY 107 billion ($1.1 billion), falling 20.3 percent compared to March 2012.