Japan Carbon Steel Export Increases by 78.6% in January

Japanese carbon steel export increased by 78.6% to 2.37 million tonnes in January from a year earlier, which represented year-to-year plus for 4 consecutive months, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Tuesday. The export decreased by 6.6% from December 2009 due to New Year holidays and an accident of a steel mill.

The export increased by 84.6% to 554,000 tonnes for special steel products in January from a year earlier and by 61.9% to 48,000 tonnes for secondary processed steels.

The total steel export increased by 71.7% to 3.439 million tonnes in January from a year earlier. The volume hit the record high as January to exceed the previous record at 3.053 million tonnes in January 2008.

Hot strip export increased by about 3 times to 761,000 tonnes in January from a year earlier, plus for 7 straight months. Zinc coated steel sheet increased by 78.3% to 438,000 tonnes. Plate increased by 31.7% to 348,000 tonnes. Cold strip increased by 2.6 times to 328,000 tonnes. Shaped steel increased by 34.9% to 64,000 tonnes and magnetic steel sheet increased by 58.4% to 76,000 tonnes.

On the other hand, the export decreased by34.2% to 44,000 tonnes by 34.2% for seamless pipe and by 20.7% to 80,000 tonnes for welded steel tube. By month-to-month comparison, seamless pipe increased by 20.4% and welded tube increased by 4.1% from December. These items’ exports are increasing for energy industry.

The total export increased by 63.8% to 948,000 tonnes for South Korea in January from a year earlier, plus for 8 consecutive months. The export increased by 70.5% to 600,000 tonnes for China and by 2.2 times to 401,000 tonnes for Thailand, both of which increased for 3 straight months. The export almost doubled to 328,000 tonnes for Taiwan, plus for 6 straight months. Meanwhile, the export decreased by 46.1% to 69,000 tonnes for USA, the first down in 2 months.