According to the provisional data released by the Japanese Ministry of Finance in January this year Japan's iron and steel product exports came to 3.6 million tonne decreasing by 5.5% MoM and up 24.4% as compared to the same month of the previous year while these exports generated a value of JPY 267 billion down 5.4% compared to December 2012 and down 1.6% on YoY basis.
In the given month Japan's iron and steel product exports to the US increased by 4.4% to 180,000 tonne its exports to the EU increased by 60.3% to 42,000 tonne while iron and steel exports to China increased by 4.3% to 482,000 tonne exports to the Middle East rose by 55.2% to 221,000 tonne and iron and steel exports to ASEAN countries rose by 42.6% to 1.2 million tonne all compared to January 2012.
Meanwhile Japanese iron and steel product imports amounted to 595,917 tonne in January this year decreasing 11% compared to the same month of the previous year with a value of JPY 60.5 billion Japan's iron ore and concentrate imports in the month in question amounted to 11.7 million tonne down by 1.9% YoY with a value of JPY 127 billion falling 18.8% compared to January 2012.
Source - Visit steelorbis.com
