In September this year, Japan's iron and steel product exports amounted to 3.07 million metric tons, up 1.6 percent month on month and rising by 13.5 percent year on year, according to the customs statistics released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).
In the January-September period of this year, Japanese iron and steel product exports amounted to 25.44 million mt, declining by 7.7 percent, compared to the same period of 2018.
Regarding Japan's major iron and steel product export markets, in the first nine months of the year, the country's iron and steel exports to South Korea totaled 4.12 million metric tons, up 2.9 percent, while exports to China decreased by 9.2 percent to 3.73 million metric tons, the export volume to Taiwan amounted to 1.64 million metric tons, down by 22.5 percent, exports to Thailand totaled 4 million metric tons, falling by 7.5 percent, while exports to the US totaled 1.02 million metric tons, falling by 10.2 percent, all year on year.
Although exports of hot rolled coil (HRC) - the main export product of Japanese suppliers - declined in September, this was offset by higher semi-finished and heavy plate exports, SteelOrbis understands.
According to market sources, in October and November the current level of HRC exports will at least be maintained, while a decline in exports of HRC may be seen in December and January due to maintenance works at Japanese mills.
Exports |
||||
|
September 2019 (mt) |
Change m-o-m (%) |
January-September 2019 |
Change y-o-y (%) |
Semi-finished |
406,837 |
43.1 |
2,584,686 |
-16.3 |
Bars |
30,764 |
0.3 |
332,591 |
-3.5 |
Wire rod |
44,493 |
11.9 |
377,170 |
-7.9 |
Heavy plate |
241,403 |
37.2 |
1,889,694 |
-8.7 |
HRC |
943,812 |
-15.3 |
7,993,130 |
0.7 |
CRC |
188,158 |
2.8 |
1,658,535 |
-8.4 |
Galvanized sheet |
185,467 |
-4.5 |
1,733,009 |
-14.3 |