Japan Steel Export Drops by 0.8% in January-June

Japanese steel export decreased by 0.8% 16.963 million tonnes in January-June from same period of 2005, announced by Ministry of Finance on Wednesday. The export value increased by 8.6% to 1.628 trillion yen. The steel import decreased by 25.3% to 3.506 million tonnes and the import value decreased by 20.9% to 340.558 billion yen. The steel export volume decreased by 13.6% for European Union and by 6.5% for Asia in January-June from same period of 2005 while the export increased by 56.9% for USA. The export to China decreased by 8.7%. The export value increased by 54% for USA, by 27.1% for EU and by 65.5% for Middle East while the export value decreased by 0.1% for Asia. The export value to China increased by 2%. The steel import volume decreased by 49.1% from USA, by 10.5% from EU and 29.5% from Asia in January-June from same period of 2005. The import volume from China decreased by 50.4%. The import value increased by 4.1% from USA and by 17.4% from EU. The import value decreased by 27.5% from Asia and by 36% from China.