Japan H-beam Import Decreases for the First Time in 7 Months

Japanese H-beam import decreased by 9.7% to 6,316 tonnes in February from a year earlier, which decreased for the first time in 7 months, according to the trade statistics by Ministry of Finance. Japanese H-beam export also decreased by 6.4% to 10,998 tonnes in February from a year ago.The import decreased by 70.5% from January 2006 when Japan imported H-beam from South Korea only in February. The averaged unit price increased by 28,049 yen to 57,837 yen per tonne in February from a year ago, while the price increased by only 312 yen from 57,525 yen per tonne of the average through 2005.Japan exported H-beam for 13 countries in February 2006. The exports exceeded 1,000 tonnes for each South Korea, Vietnam and Taiwan. The averaged unit price was 61,457 yen per tonne, up 700 yen from February 2005 and down 6,847 yen from January 2006.