In February this year, Japan’s iron and steel product exports amounted to 2.18 million metric tons, decreasing by 4.5 percent month on month and 13.2 percent year on year, according to the customs statistics released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).
In the January-February period this year, Japanese iron and steel product exports amounted to 4.46 million mt, down by 10.7 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.
Regarding Japan’s major iron and steel product export markets, in the first two months this year the country’s iron and steel exports to Thailand totaled 650,779 metric tons, down 3.4 percent, while exports to South Korea decreased by 6.9 percent to 647,921 metric tons. The export volume to China amounted to 326,479 metric tons, up by 11.0 percent, exports to the US totaled 197,421 metric tons, increasing by 13.4 percent, while exports to Taiwan totaled 168,545 metric tons, down by 46.2 percent, all year on year.
| Exports | ||||
| February (mt) | Change m-o-m (%) | January-February (mt) | Change y-o-y (%) | |
| Semi-finished | 192,840 | -13.1 | 363,631 | -21.1 |
| Bars | 15,975 | -57.3 | 31,581 | +59.4 |
| Wire rod | 37,877 | -2.1 | 76,579 | -0.6 |
| Heavy plate | 205,312 | +116.7 | 381,265 | -19.8 |
| HRC | 779,434 | -12.9 | 1,674,606 | -10.8 |
| CRC | 108,840 | +0.5 | 217,105 | -13.2 |
| Galvanized sheet | 167,770 | +4.4 | 328,430 | +5.3 |