According to the preliminary data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF), Japan's carbon steel product shipments in November totaled 5.85 million metric tons, slightly increasing by 0.1 percent year on year, and down 2.5 percent compared to October. 63.5 percent of the shipments were made to the domestic market, with the rest going to the export markets.
Meanwhile, during the month in question, Japan's inventory of carbon steel products amounted to 5.83 million metric tons, down 14.4 percent year on year, but up 3.3 percent over October. Of the total inventory, 78.7 percent was held by producers, with the remaining 21.3 percent held by dealers.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, Japan's crude steel output in November totaled 8.86 million metric tons, increasing slightly by 0.6 percent month on month, and up 0.6 percent compared to November last year.