Japan H-Beam Export Rises by 172% in November

Japanese H-beam export increased by 172% to 20,905 tonnes in November from a year earlier, representing increases for 9 months in a row, according to Ministry of Finance. The export reached 20,000 tonnes for the first time in 4 months. The import increased by 58.8% to 15,545 tonnes reaching 10,000 tonnes for the first time in 3 months due to higher import from China at 14,307 tonnes. The export is high level under preferable offshore market at US$ 650-700 per tonne. Japanese H-beam was shipped to 15 countries, in which South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand imported more than 10,000 tonnes, in November. The averaged export price was 75,378 yen per tonne, which was 5,779 yen lower than November 2005. The import was from South Korea and China. The import from China increases for sand guards and other civil work applications due to the cheaper price. Japanese H-beam import decreased by 3.4% to 128,460 tonnes in January-November from same period of 2005. The import is expected to be high level in 2006 when the volume already reached 100,000 tonnes by November, after 152,770 tonnes in 2005, which reached 100,000 tonnes for the first time in 14 years. The import was 9,897 tonnes through Chiba custom, 3,328 tonnes at Yokkaichi and 2,108 tonnes at Fushiki in November.