Japan Carbon Steel Export Drops by 34.7% in April

Japanese carbon steel export decreased by 34.7% to 1.374 million tonnes in April from a year earlier, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Tuesday. The export decreased for 7 months in a row. The export showed no sign to hit bottom when the export decreased by18.9% from March, which decreased for the first time in 2 months. The export decreased by 39.0% to 292,000 tonnes for special steel, by 21.1% to 324,000 tonnes for semi-finished steel and by 48.1% to 33,000 tonnes for processed steels.

The total steel export decreased by 30.3% to 2.154 million tonne for April from a year earlier, which decreased for 7 months in a row. The export value was US$% 2.239 billion and 221.6 billion yen, which was decreases for 4 months in a row in dollar base and for 5 months in a row for yen base.

The export decreased by 17.1% to 439,000 tonnes for hot rolled wide strip in April from a year earlier, which decreased for 7 months in a row. The export decreased by 57.4% to 200,000 tonnes for galvanizing steel, by 43.9% to 149,000 tonnes for cold rolled wide strip, by 16.1% to 56,000 tonnes for seamless pipe, by 45.7% to 44,000 tonnes for steel bar, by 34.9% to 44,000 tonnes for electrical steel, by 59.1% to 40,000 tonnes and by 26.9% to 26,000 tonnes. The plate export increased by 1.0% to 257,000 tonnes, which increased for the first time in 3 months.

The total export decreased by 12.5% to 673,000 tonnes for South Korea in April from a year earlier, which decreased for 7 months in a row. The export decreased by 12.5% to 497,000 tonnes for China, by 39.7% to 209,000 tonnes for Taiwan, by 69.6% to 103,000 tonnes for Thailand and by 48.0% to 50,000 tonnes for USA. See attached table.