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

Japan’s crude steel output falls 3.8 percent in H1 FY 2011-12

Sat, 22 October 2011

On October 20, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) released the latest data regarding crude steel production in Japan. Accordingly, in the first half of the fiscal year 2011-12 (April-September) Japan's crude steel production amounted to 53.31 million metric tons, decreasing by 3.8 percent year on year.

The JISF stated that the main factor responsible for the output reduction was weakened market demand resulting from the devastating earthquake and tsunami which hit the country on March 11 this year.

Tags: raw mat , Japan , Far East , production , steelmaking , crude steel , East Asia and Pacific

source steelorbis

Japan’s January stainless steel exports fall 17.3 percent from December

Thu, 10 March 2011 14:20:09 (GMT+2)

According to the data issued by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF), in January this year Japan's stainless steel exports amounted to 93,842 mt, registering a decrease of 17.3 percent compared to December 2010, but a 9.2 percent increase compared to January 2010.

Regarding Japan's major stainless steel export markets, in January of the current year the country's stainless steel exports to China totaled 13,268 mt, down 40.2 percent; exports to South Korea rose 17 percent and reached 20,412 mt; the export volume to Taiwan reached 10,803, down 28.2 percent; exports to the US totaled 5,559 mt, decreasing by 18.6 percent; while exports to Thailand came to 10,450 mt, falling by 40.9 percent - all on month-on-month basis.

Meanwhile, Japan's stainless steel imports in January amounted to 13,228 mt - down 12.4 percent month on month and 1.5 percent year on year.

Tags: stainless , stainless , Korea S. , Far East , North America , Southeast Asia , imp/exp statistics , steelmaking , East Asia and Pacific, USA , China , Japan , Thailand , Taiwan

Monthly Coking Coal Price Setting 'Unacceptable': JFE Chief

Wed,Feb23, 2011

TOKYO (NQN)--Japan Iron and Steel Federation Chairman Eiji Hayashida said Wednesday BHP Billiton's call to revise coking coal prices monthly is "completely unacceptable."

Hayashida, also the president of JFE Steel Corp., made the comment in connection with the news that the Anglo-Australian resource giant asked major Japanese steelmakers to reset prices monthly rather than quarterly beginning in April.

Hayashida admitted such negotiations are taking place.

But he rejected the call, saying, "If prices of basic materials such as iron and steel change in the short term, it will make it harder for companies that order steel products to develop a purchase plan as well as to forecast earnings."

Tags: iron ore, steel, Anglo-Australian resource, raw mat

Japanese crude steel out put in 2010 to highest in 43 years

Friday, 21 Jan 2011

Japanese crude steel output in 2010 jumped by 25% to nearly 110 million tonnes, the biggest rise in 43 years.

Crude steel output in December totalled 9.17 million tonnes, up 2.5%YoY for a 14th consecutive YoY rise. From the previous month, December output rose 2.1% MoM due in part to an extra day compared with November.

Officials at the Japan Iron and Steel Federation traced the rebound to greater demand from Japanese carmakers, whose sales received a boost from the subsidy buying program for environmentally friendly cars.

They also said exports to overseas markets, such as China and Southeastern Asian countries, remained robust.

(Sourced from Kyodo News)