Japan gradually increases steel exports

During the first half of the current fiscal year (April-September), external supplies of Japanese steel products increased by 3.2% compared to the same period last year to 16.59 million tons. Previously, exports had declined for two years in a row.

ASEAN countries remain the largest buyers of Japanese steel products. In six months, 5.25 million tons of metal were sent there, which, however, is 5.6% less than a year earlier. Also, supplies to China decreased by 26%, to 1.4 million tons.

At the same time, Japanese metallurgists strengthened their presence in the South Korean market, where 2.789 million tons of steel were shipped in six months, 6.9% more than in the same period in 2022. Supplies to EU countries also increased (by 36.1%, up to 1.21 million tons), the USA (by 6.2%, up to 579 thousand tons) and the countries of the Middle East (by 76.8%, up to 513 thousand tons).

Japanese steel imports amounted to 3.597 million tons in April-September, which is 2.4% higher than a year ago. At the same time, 1.785 million tons (16.8% more) came from Korea and 618 thousand tons (2.7% more) from China.