Japan Steel Export Statistics - February 2019

According to World Steel Association, Japan's crude steel output recorded at 7.74 MnT in Feb'19, down 5% M-o-M against 8.14 MnT in Jan'19.

Scrap exports to Vietnam jump almost three folds - Japan exported 646,780 MT ferrous scrap in Feb'19, up 27.6% M-o-M against 506,833 MT in Jan'19 while marginally down 2% Y-o-Y against 657,905 MT exports recorded during the same month last year. Vietnamese scrap importers had turned active for urgent scrap bookings from Japan observing bulk cargo getting booked which could have resulted in increased scrap exports in Feb'19.

The largest importer South Korea imported 392,813 MT, down 7% M-o-M occupying 61% share. Followed by Vietnam (166,932 MT, +256% M-o-M), Bangladesh (40,550, +170% M-o-M) and Taiwan (31,508 MT, +116% M-o-M) occupying 26%,8% and 5% respectively.

Japanese scrap prices increased successively by around JPY 2,500-3,000/MT on increased domestic scrap demand in Feb'19.

Billet exports rise 14% M-o-M - Japan’s billet exports recorded at 170,764 MT in Feb'19 observing a rise of 14.4% on M-o-M basis. However, billet exports fell by 50% as against the same month last year at 344,938 MT in Feb'18.

The country's total Billet exports during Jan-Feb'19 stood at around 319,974 MT, down 49% Y-o-Y which was about 629,622 MT during Jan-Feb'18.

South Korea remained the largest importer of Japanese Billet in Jan-Feb’19 with a contribution of around 35.88% (114,806 MT), followed by Taiwan 34.13% (109,210 MT), Thailand 16.31% (52,175 MnT) & China 5.41% (17,312 MT).Moreover, billet imports to Philippines reported at 12,071 MT however no major deals recorded in the last month.

Total finish flat exports drop 11% M-o-M - Japan's finish flat steel exports dropped by 11% in Feb’19 at 1.66 MnT against 1.86 MnT in Jan’19. On a yearly basis, exports plunged by 22% to 1.66 MnT in Feb’19 in comparison to 2.12 MnT in Feb’18.

Finish flat stainless steel exports recorded at 37,743 MT, down marginally on monthly premises in Feb'19.

Owing to increased consumption of finish steel in the domestic market for Tokyo Olympics 2020 activities, exports could have slowed down from Japan in Feb'19. Secondly, Chinese lunar new year holidays in the month of Feb also pulled country's exports down. Meanwhile, China-US trade war dynamics affected Japanese export trade sentiments.

Major importing countries of Japanese flat steel include Thailand at 0.29 MnT, China at 0.28 MnT, South Korea at 0.18 MnT and Indonesia at 0.13 MnT in Feb’19. While other countries like Mexico, Vietnam, India, United States and Malaysia imported flat steel in smaller quantities in Feb’19 from Japan.

Total finish long exports rise 18% M-o-M - Japan Finish long exports surged by 17.6% M-o-M in Feb'19 and recorded at 183,872 MT in Feb'19 against 156,366 MT in Jan’19. On yearly basis, exports volume has slightly moved down by around 1% in Feb ’19 against 185,009 MT in Feb’18.

South Korea stood as the largest Finish long importer at 58,433 MT followed by Thailand at 26,519 MT in Feb’19 period. Increased demand from leading importers could have supported finish long exports in Feb'19.

Finish long stainless steel exports observed a rise of 24% on monthly premises to 11,130 MT in Feb'19.

While graphite electrode exports recorded at 6,010 MT in Feb'19, down 5% M-o-M.