Japan's August Steel Exports Down 1% YoY

Japan's steel exports fell 0.9% year-on-year to 3.15 million tons in August, but rose 3.9% from July, according to data from the Japan Iron & Steel Federation released Friday.

A JISF spokesman said exports have largely stabilized year-over-year as steelmakers have been continually catering to domestic supplies in recent months and generally there was little left for exports.

The decline in conventional carbon steel exports in August was balanced by increased specialty steel exports as demand for specialty steel from the auto sector in Asia was strong, the official added.

Exports of ordinary carbon steels in August amounted to 2.03 million tons, which is 4.2% more than in July, but 6.5% more than in July, and the export of special steel, which amounted to 700,193 million tons, is more by 12.4% over the previous year, and 4.3% over the month.

Exports of Japan to Thailand amounted to 515,832 tons in August, which is 9.3% more than in July, and 0.4% more for the year; 473 987 tons to China, up 7.5% over the previous year and up 6.6% per month; 435,152 tons to South Korea, an increase of 16.6% per year and 5.5% per month, and exports to the United States amounted to 113,663 tons, which is 38.5% less than in July, and by 0.7 % less than in July.

A JISF spokesman attributed the decline in US exports to strong demand from Asian countries and the US post-Section 232 measures.