According to the data issued by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF), in January this year Japan's stainless steel exports amounted to 93,842 mt, registering a decrease of 17.3 percent compared to December 2010, but a 9.2 percent increase compared to January 2010.
Regarding Japan's major stainless steel export markets, in January of the current year the country's stainless steel exports to China totaled 13,268 mt, down 40.2 percent; exports to South Korea rose 17 percent and reached 20,412 mt; the export volume to Taiwan reached 10,803, down 28.2 percent; exports to the US totaled 5,559 mt, decreasing by 18.6 percent; while exports to Thailand came to 10,450 mt, falling by 40.9 percent - all on month-on-month basis.
Meanwhile, Japan's stainless steel imports in January amounted to 13,228 mt - down 12.4 percent month on month and 1.5 percent year on year.