Japan's Steel Exports in May Increased Year-on-year For The First Time in 13 Months

According to data from the Japan Iron and Steel Alliance, Japan exported 2.782 million tons of steel in May, an increase of 11.2% year-on-year, the first year-on-year increase in 13 months. Among them, 1.787 million tons of ordinary steel were exported, a year-on-year increase of 9.5%. In terms of major product exports, the export volume of hot-rolled broadband steel in May was 878,000 tons, a slight decrease of 0.2% year-on-year; the export volume of thick plates was 198,000 tons, an increase of 8.3% year-on-year; the export volume of galvanized steel and cold-rolled broadband steel was 20.9 respectively 10,000 tons and 164,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 45.5% and 62.1% respectively.

In terms of export destinations, Japan exported 432,000 tons of steel to China in May, down 7.9% year-on-year; exported 329,000 tons of steel to South Korea, down 25.5% year-on-year; exported 485,000 tons to Thailand, up 79.6% year-on-year; The United States exported 137,000 tons, a sharp increase of 60.5% year-on-year.

In terms of imports, Japan imported 560 thousand tons of steel in May, a year-on-year decrease of 2.6%. Among them, 316,000 tons of ordinary steel were imported, a year-on-year increase of 1.5%.

From the perspective of Japan’s general steel imports in May, 203,000 tons came from South Korea, an increase of 15.5% year-on-year, the sixth consecutive month of year-on-year growth; 56,000 tons came from Taiwan, China, down 31.0% year-on-year; 42,000 tons came from China, down year-on-year 5.2%, a year-on-year decline for the 16th consecutive month. (Source: World Metal Herald)