Japan Steel Import Increases by 23% in 2005

Japanese carbon steel import increased by 23% to 4.233 million tonnes in 2005 from 2004, representing increases for 3 years in a row, according to Ministry of Finance. The higher import of sheet steel including cold rolled coil contributed to the jump. The cold rolled sheet import jumped by 41% to 1.157 million tonnes in 2005 from 2004. The hot rolled sheet import increased by 6.5% to 1.636 million tonnes. The other sheet steel import including galvanizing steel also increased. However, the plate import decreased by 18% to 345,000 tonnes in 2005 from 2004. The import decreased after the jump from 2004 to early 2005. The import increased by 103% to 274,000 tonnes for wire rod and by 55% to 152,000 tonnes for H-beam in 2005 from 2004. The import increased for other many items though the import decreased for tinplate, tin-free steel and other limited items. The total steel import including special steel and processed steel products increased by 20% to 8.437 million tonnes in 2005 from 2004. The import increased by 77% to 1.06 million tonnes for pig iron and by 14% to 570,000 tonnes for processed steel products lifting the total volume.