Japan's industrial production increased by 0.5 percent in May 2026 compared with April

In May of this year, Japan's industrial production grew by 0.5 percent month-on-month and decreased by 1.7 percent compared to the same month in 2025, according to preliminary figures from the industrial production report released by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

On the other hand, Japan's iron and steel production index rose 0.4 percent year-on-year in May, while Japan's seasonally adjusted iron and steel production index increased 1.1 percent in the month compared with April. Meanwhile, in May, shipments of iron and steel by Japanese manufacturers increased by two percent, while iron and steel stocks decreased by 0.2 percent compared to the previous month.

According to a study by the Ministry of Manufacturing Production forecasts, industrial production in Japan is expected to grow by 3.7 percent in June and remain stable in July, both month-on-month. Meanwhile, Japan's iron and steel production is expected to decline 0.6 percent in June and 1.6 percent in July from the previous month.