Japan Steel Export Rises by 2.1% in April-September

Japanese steel export increased by 2.1% to 18.25 million tonnes in April-September from same period of 2006, announced by Ministry of Finance on Wednesday. The export value increased by 18.7% to 2.043 trillion yen. The import increased by 8.4% to 4.24 million tonnes and by 39.2% to 518.87 billion yen. The export volume increased by 11.7% to European Union and by 5.5% to Asia in April-September from same period of 2006 while the export dropped by 24.3% to USA. The export to China decreased by 0.2%. The export value increased by 31.8% to EU and by 22% to Asia while the export to USA decreased by 7.4%. The export value to China decreased by 11.6%. The import volume increased by 22.4% to USA and by 7.3% to EU in April-September from same period of 2006 while the export decreased by 1.3% to Asia. The export to China decreased by 22.9%. The export increased to more than 30 times to Middle East and by 76.9% to Russia. The import value increased by 2.6% to USA, by 22.6% to EU and by 33% to Asia. The export value to China increased by 19.5%. The value increased to 3 times to Middle East and by 80.7% to Russia. The steel export increased by 0.8% to 3.007 million tonnes in September from a year earlier. The export value increased by 6.2% to 326.689 billion yen. The import increased by 8.7% to 604,655 tonnes and by 7.9% to 68.023 billion yen.