In July this year, Japan's industrial production showed zero growth from the previous month, while output fell by 3.8 percent from July last year, according to the preliminary indices of the Industrial Production report published by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
On the other hand, in July the Japanese iron and steel production index fell by 1.4 percent year on year, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased by 0.5 percent in July compared to June. Meanwhile, in July Japanese producers' iron and steel shipments increased by 6.2 percent and iron and steel inventories were down by 4.1 percent, both compared to the previous month.
According to the ministry's Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Japanese industrial production is expected to increase by 4.1 percent in August and to fall by 0.7 percent in September this year, both month on month. Meanwhile, Japanese iron and steel production is expected to rise 0.2 percent in August and to drop by 2.2 percent in September this year, month on month.