Japan's export shipments of iron and steel products totaled 2,623,000 tons in March 2009, down 32.7% from a year ago (up 39.3% from a month ago), indicating a year-on-year fall for six consecutive months, according to the Japan Iron & Steel Federation. The values of the exports totaled US$2,967.92 million, down 28.0% from a year ago. In terms of yen, the values totaled Y286.5 billion, down 33.3%.
Of the total export shipments, ordinary steel products accounted for 1,694,000 tons, down 36.8% from a year ago. Of the ordinary steel products exported, HR coils made up 479,000 tons, down 31.3% from a year ago; heavy plates 334,000 tons, down 7.3%; galvanized sheets 194,000 tons, down 62.1%; CR coils 164,000 tons, down 45.9%; welded and butt-welded pipes 121,000 tons, down 29.9%; seamless pipes 71,000 tons, down 25.2%; electrical sheets 64,000 tons, down 12.1%; shapes 58,000 tons, down 58.4%; bars 44,000 tons, down 50.8%; and wire rods 21,000 tons, down 49.9%.
In the breakdown of the total export shipments by main destinations, South Korea took 828,000 tons, down 17.2% from a year ago; China 496,000 tons, down 27.7%; Taiwan 201,000 tons, down 42.2%; Thailand 120,000 tons, down 67.8%; and the USA 157,000 tons, down 17.2%. |
