Japan Carbon Steel Export Down by 4% in November

Japanese carbon steel export decreased by 4% to 1.979 million tonnes in November from a year earlier, which decreased year-on-year for the first time in 4 months, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Monday. The export represented year-on-year increase for plates and shapes while year-on-year decrease for hot rolled wide strips for the first time in 5 months and for zinc coated and cold rolled wide strips for the first time in 2 months. The carbon steel export increased by 3.1% to 22.836 million tonnes through January-November from the same period of 2006.The total steel export increased by 24.1% to 850,000 tonnes for South Korea in November from a year earlier, which increased for 2 months in a row. The export increased by 15.6% to 380,000 tonnes for Thailand, which increased for 13 months in a row. The export to China decreased by 7.5% to 559,000 tonnes, which decreased for 6 months. The export to Taiwan decreased by 3.9% to 268,000 tonnes, which decreased in 2 months for the first time. The export to USA decreased by 18.3% to 98,000 tonnes, which decreased for 9 months in a row.