Japan Small Steel Bar Export Drops by 62.5% in September

Japanese small steel bar export decreased. The volume was 17,005 tonnes in September, which was 62.5% lower than August and 45.7% lower than a year earlier. The monthly export was 30,000-50,000 tonnes in January-August. The exporters shipped more for domestic market when the demand was firm in July-August. The export was firm through August mainly for USA with firm construction demand along with South Korea and Southeast Asia. Japanese distributors shifted from export to domestic shipment under expanding domestic market with higher price. The small bar export was 14,209 tonnes for South Korea in September, which was 28.6% lower than August and 19.3% lower than a year earlier. The export was 791 tonnes for Vietnam, which was 12.5 times of August and 2.5 times of September 2005. The export to China was 554 tonnes, which was 17.1% higher than August and 27.4% higher than a year earlier. The export to USA, which was major destination, decreased to 17 tonnes in September from 17,285 tonnes in August. The export price is FOB 51,000-52,000 yen per tonne for USA after the price increased to 54,000-55,000 yen in July-August from 47,000 yen in the beginning of the year. Despite of the firm export price, the export volume could keep low when domestic shippers focus on shipment for domestic market.