Regarding Japan's major steel export markets, in October the country's steel exports to South Korea totaled 649,508 mt, up 4.6 percent, while steel exports to China decreased by 9.3 percent to 531,061 metric tons; the export volume to Taiwan amounted to 350,049 metric tons, up 44.4 percent; exports to Thailand totaled 475,409 metric tons, up 12.2 percent; while exports to the US came to 132,477 metric tons, decreasing by 25.5 percent, all compared to the previous month.
In October this year, Japan imported 425,227 metric tons of steel from South Korea, up 53.8 percent, it imported 143,502 metric tons from China, up by 43.2 percent, while imports from Taiwan came to 82,765 metric tons, increasing by 42.6 percent, all compared to September.
Exports | Imports | ||||||
October 2011 (mt) | Change m-o-m (%) | Change y-o-y (%) | October 2011 (mt) | Change m-o-m (%) | Change y-o-y (%) | ||
Semi-finished | 525,061 | 46.1 | 15 | 55,287 | 404.8 | 18.515 | |
Bars | 29,222 | 40.7 | -21.4 | 3,622 | 53.3 | 135.3 | |
Wire rod | 43,072 | -26.7 | 19 | 28,290 | 99.4 | 34 | |
Heavy plate | 288,272 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 65,470 | 91.6 | 179.4 | |
HRC | 703,065 | 6.1 | 10.6 | 183,436 | 60.9 | 47.6 | |
CRC | 285,164 | -8.7 | -15.3 | 93,299 | 26.9 | 36.1 | |
Galvanized sheet | 402,875 | 6.7 | -7.8 | 66,015 | 58 | 52.5 | |
Special steel | 597,203 | -3.2 | -5.5 | 38,292 | 29.4 | 70.3 | |