Japan Carbon Steel Import Rises by 1.3% in 2007

Japanese carbon steel import increased to 356,340 tonnes by 20.2% in July from a year earlier, which increased by 4.7% from last month because dealers and users increased purchase volume in spring when the supply and demand was tight, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Thursday.The import in January-July decreased to 2.241 million tonnes by 2.4% corresponding to same period last year.The special steel import decreased to 19,567 tonnes by 35.0% in July from a year earlier. Secondary processed steel products import increased to 61,090 tonnes by 10.5%.H-beam import increased to 18,395 tonnes by 3 times. Plate import increased to 16694 tonnes by 26.2%. Hot-rolled steel sheet import increased to 146,820 tonnes by 15.7%. Cold-rolled steel sheet import increased to 95,473 tonnes by 18.1%. Zinc coated steel sheet import increased to 37713 tonnes by 2.0%.The import increased to 194798 tonnes by 10.0% from South Korea in July from a year earlier, to 84,614 tonnes by 2.2 times from China while decreased to 60,074 tonnes by 14.1%. Chinese steel makers are seemed to enhance export stance due to the influence of restricted export measure by Chinese government. Maker source said the import from China may increase in near future.