Japanese stainless steel products imports up by 13pct YoY in 2011

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

The Japan Iron and Steel Federation compiled the import statistics released by the Ministry of Finance into the table attached hereto with regard to the imports of stainless steel products during 2011.
Total imports in 2011 were 189,263 tonnes, up by 13.6% YoY from 167,499 tons in 2010. Fairly high level of monthly imports of more or less 15,000 tonnes except in April 2011, June 2011 and August 2011 helped the total annual imports to increase.
Total value of the imports was USD 787.972 million with an averaged unit price of USD 4,163 per tonne, up by 14.3% from 2010. Monthly averages of the unit prices for 10 months of 2011 between February 2011 and November 2011 were all more than USD 4,000 per tonne.
All major originating countries, especially Korea, increased exports to Japan compared to 2010. Besides, imports from those countries traditionally of smaller exports to Japan also increased volumes by 8%.
The imports in December 2011 were 16,909 tonnes, up by 13.6% MoM from November 2011, a small rebound from the past several months of decline. Total value of the imports in December 2011 was USD 64.318 million with an averaged unit price of USD 3,803.77 per tonne, down again from the preceding month by 8.5%, mainly because of the prices of most of the imported products, except the ones from China, dropped from November 2011.
By comparison, total imported quantity of special steel products, including stainless steel products, in December 2011 was 49,079 tonnes, up by 58.9% MoM from November 2011, mainly because the imports of other special steel products notably increased to 32,170 tonnes, up by 100% MoM from November 2011.
Source: TEX Report Limited