Japan Carbon Steel Export Decreases by 5.4% to 2.1MT in July

Japanese carbon steel export decreased by 5.4% to 2.135 million tonnes in July from a year earlier, which decreased for 5 consecutive months, according to Japan Iron & Steel Federation. The export continued to decrease to South Korea and China due to low Asian steel market price and high yen rate. By month-to-month comparison, the export decreased by 9.6% and downturned after 2 months. East Asian steel market price shows an upturning sign when Chinese and Taiwanese steel makers raised their sales prices. However, Japanese players would continue to be under tough export situation due to high yen rate and raw material price.

Total steel export decreased by 0.4% to 3.321 million tonnes in July from a year earlier, minus for 5 consecutive months. Total steel export value increased to US$ 4.158 billion or 334.2 billion yen, continuous plus for 19 months on dollar base and first plus in 3 months on yen base.

Among carbon steel items, the export decreased by 15.2% to 417,000 tonnes for galvanized steel sheet, continuous year-to-year minus for 5 months. Steel plate decreased by 19.4% to 243,000 tonnes and welded steel tube decreased by 10.8% to 85,000 tonnes.

On the other hand, hot rolled wide strip increased by 0.3% to 649,000 tonnes. Cold rolled wide strip increased by 0.9% to 316,000 tonnes, magnetic steel sheet increased by 4.9% to 76,000 tonnes, and shaped steel increased by 17.4% to 71,000 tonnes.

By countries, total steel export to South Korea decreased by 9.2% to 722,000 tonnes, continuous year-to-year minus for 8 months. South Korean major steel makers such as Hyundai Steel increased their productions while Chinese steel export increased to South Korea. The export to China decreased by 10.5% to 542,000 tonnes, continuous year-to-year minus for 4 months. Meanwhile, the export increased by 10% to 403,000 tonnes to Thailand and by 34.4% to 266,000 tonnes to Taiwan, both first plus in 2 months.