Japan Carbon Steel Import Hits Year-High in October

Japanese carbon steel import increased by 53.4% to 478,802 tonnes in October from September, which hit the monthly high in 2011, according to Ministry of Finance. The import from South Korea hit more than 300,000 tonnes for the first time in this year. The import also hit major increase from China and from Taiwan. The import increased for all items other than tin free steel and pipe. Japanese users and dealers increased lower priced import than domestic steel products under historical high yen rate.

The import increased by 60.9% to 183,436 tonnes for hot rolled flat steel in October from September. The import increased by 26.9% to 93,299 tonnes for cold rolled flat steel and by 58.0% to 66,015 tonnes for galvanized steel. The import increased by 91.6% to 65,481 tonnes for plate and by 7.8% to 4,950 tonnes for electrical steel. The tinplate import increased by 50.4% to 2,400 tonnes. The figures of those items were monthly high in the year.

The import increased by 49.8% to 329,568 tonnes from South Korea in October from September. The import increased by 50.4% to 72,892 tonnes from Taiwan and by 91.2% to 71,031 tonnes from China.