In February this year, Japan's cold rolled sheet and strip shipments decreased by 2.5 percent compared to the previous month and declined by 1.9 percent on year-on-year basis, amounting to 467,000 metric tons. 54.6 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 45.4 percent were made to the export markets, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data.
Meanwhile, in the given month, Japan's CR sheet and strip inventories increased by 3.2 percent from the previous month to 746,000 metric tons and were up 2.2 percent year on year. 73 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 27 percent were held by steel traders.
In the given month, Japan's CR sheet and strip production amounted to 490,000 mt, down 3.7 percent month on month and increasing 7.9 percent year on year.