In June this year, Japan's hot rolled plate and sheet shipments increased by two percent on month-on-month basis and were down by 11 percent on year-on-year basis, amounting to 953,874 metric tons. 70 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 30 percent were made to the export markets, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data.
In June, Japan's hot rolled strip shipments amounted to 1.3 million mt, decreasing 11 percent compared to May and up three percent year on year. 30 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 70 percent were made to the export markets.
In the first half of this year, Japan's hot rolled plate and sheet shipments decreased by eight percent compared to the first half of 2011, amounting to 5.2 million mt, while in the period in question the country's hot rolled strip shipments amounted to 7.8 million mt, up nine percent year on year.
Meanwhile, the average domestic price for HR plate and sheet in Japan in June this year was JPY 83,000/mt (approx. $1,055/mt), remaining unchanged compared to the previous month and down by JPY 5,000/mt (approx. $63.6/mt) year on year. The average domestic price for HR strip in the month in question was JPY 65,000/mt (approx. $826.5/mt), falling by JPY 1,000/mt (approx. $12.7/mt) compared to the previous month and down by JPY 8,000/mt (approx. $112.5/mt) year on year.