Japan Carbon Steel Export Doubles in February

Japanese carbon steel export increased by 94.9% to 2.387 million tonnes in February from a year earlier, which represented year-to-year plus for 5 months in a row, announced by Japan Iron & Steel Federation on Thursday. The export increased by 0.7% from January, which rebounded after 2 months.

Japanese special steel export increased by 113.0% to 576,000 tonnes in February from a year earlier. Secondary processed products export increased by 119.4% to 61,000 tonnes. Both of the export more than doubled.

The total steel export including pig iron and ferroalloys increased by 81.6% to 3.42 million tonnes year-to-year, which hit the second-largest volume as February since February 2008.

Carbon steel export increased by 2.8 times to 755,000 tonnes for wide hot rolled strip in February from a year earlier, which represented year-to-year plus for 8 consecutive months. Zinc coated sheet export increased by 2.3 times to 405,000 tonnes. The export increased by 17.3% to 313,000 tonnes for plate, by 2.3 times to 305,000 tonnes for wide cold strip, by 2.5 times to 95,000 tonnes for shaped steel, by 28.9% to 95,000 tonnes for hammer welded steel tube and by 46.4% to 69,000 tonnes for magnetic sheet. Domestic demand maintains low mainly from building constructions while strong export supports domestic steel makers’ production level.

Meanwhile, by comparison with January 2010, plate export decreased by 10.0% and magnetic sheet decreased by 8.5%. The supply and demand of some products seem to be loose.

The total export increased by 42.0% to 857,000 tonnes for South Korea in February from a year earlier, which increased for 9 consecutive months. The export increased by 51.6% to 577,000 tonnes for China, which increased for 4 months in a row. The export increased by 2.4 times to 354,000 tonnes for Thailand, increasing for 4 straight months. The export increased by 85.6% to 126,000 tonnes for USA, rebounding after 2 months.