Japan: Billet Exports Surged by 21% in Feb’18

Japan’s billet exports recorded a gain of 21% M-o-M in the second months of 2018, as per the country’s custom.

The nation’s billet exports were recorded at 344,938 MT in February 2018, incline by around 21.42% M-o-M against 284,684 MT in January 2018. Taiwan remains the largest importer of Japanese billet, as the nation has contribute around 39% (135,139 MT), followed by South Korea (24%), Thailand (16%), US (9%), & Philippines (7%).

As per the assessment, it was noticed that in Feb’18 billet export to Thailand rise by more than 300% M-o-M & stood at 53,092 MT against 12,540 MT in Jan’17. Inline exports to China also rise by 90% M-o-M.

In the duration of Jan-Feb’18, Japan has exported about 629,622 MT billet, decline by around 2.28% M-o-M against 644,313 MT during the same period in 2017. In CY17, the country’s billet export was around 3,995,981 MT & in CY16 at 4,256,577 MT.

Further in the month of February 2017, the crude steel production of Japan was around 8.30 MnT and in CY18 (Jan-Feb) it was approximately 17.33 MnT. Meanwhile, in CY17 the figure of crude steel production stood at 104.66 MnT, & 104.77 MnT in CY16 .

Key Updates

1. During Jan-Feb’18, Japan imported around 58.72% of iron ore from Australia, which was around 12.23 MnT. Meanwhile the import of iron ore in the same preceding last year stood at 11.10 MnT. Current offer of Fe 62% Fines are at USD 54/MT FoB Australia, from Dampier/Cape Lambert port

2. Japan’s leading EAF steel producer – Tokyo Steel has slashed its domestic scrap purchase prices by Japanese Yen 500-1,000/MT (USD 5-9)

3. The export offers of 150*150 IS 2830 grade billet are currently at USD 505-515/MT FoB India & 125*125 3sp at USD 515-525/MT FoB Ukraine.

Top Unload Country (Jan-Feb’18), Billet

Quantity in MnT
Sources: SteelMint Stats.