Japan Steel Export Statistics: H1 2019

Japan, the worlds third largest crude steel producer observed fall in exports of all the major steel products in the first half of 2019, as exports for ferrous scrap, finish long steel, finish flat steel, semi-finished products and Graphite electrode witnessed fall in H1 2019, the customs data maintained with SteelMint showed.​ On a quarterly basis, the exports of finished flat steel, finished long steel and semi finished products witnessed a rise, while the exports for the other products dropped on a quarterly basis.

According to world steel association, Japan‘s crude steel output in H1 2019 dropped by around 4% Y-o-Y and stood at 51.08 MnT as compared to 52.98 MnT in H1 2018.

Ferrous Scrap – Japan exported 1,704,895 MT of ferrous scrap in Q2 CY’19, dropping by 0.3% Q-o-Q and 11% Y-o-Y. In H1 2019, the country observed a drop of 7% Y-o-Y as it exported 3,414,840 MT of scrap in the first 6 months of CY’19, as compared to 3,678,527 MT in the same period in CY’18
On a monthly basis, the exports rose by 22% M-o-M, with 610,875 MT of exports recorded in June’19, as against 500,934 MT in May’19.

Country-wise – South Korea remained the largest importer occupying a share of 59% in total scrap imported from Japan in Q2 CY’19, as it imported 1,002,335 MT in the quarter, witnessing a drop of 8% Q-o-Q against 1090393 MT imported in Q1 CY’19. Followed by other importers, Vietnam with 451,655 MT in Q2 CY’19, up 12% Q-o-Q, with 26% share and Taiwan (117,481 MT, up 21%) with 7 % of share. In H1 2019, Japanese scrap exports to South Korea remained stable Y-o-Y, while exports to Vietnam and Taiwan increased by 18% Y-o-Y and decreased by 6% Y-o-Y respectively.

Finish flat – Japan finish flat exports accounted for 6.3 MnT in Q2CY’19 up by 14% Q-o-Q basis as against 5.51 MnT in Q1CY’19. In H1 2019, Japan’s finish flat exports accounted for 11.81 MnT, down by 12% Y-o-Y as against 13.38 MnT in H1 2018.However on monthly premise the same witnessed marginal fall by 5% to 2.11 MnT in Jun’19 over 2.22 MnT a month ago.

In the month of Jun’19 domestic demand in Japan remained robust amid increased government investments towards infrastructural development while demand from automobile and heavy machinery sectors remained high. Further nation reduced thier HRC exports volumes to India amid rumours of safeguard duty to be imposed on FTA countries which attract zero import duty. Thus these reasons pulled down export volumes in Jun’19.

Country-wise- Thailand remained the largest importer and accounts for 0.99 MnT in Q2CY’19, increased by 9% from 0.91 MnT in the previous quarter.
Following this nation’s flat steel exports to China was 1 MnT, South Korea 0.95 MnT, Vietnam 0.52 MnT while Indonesia and Mexico stood at 0.37 MnT each in the current quarter.Other nations importing flat steel from Japan in Q2CY’19 were India, Malaysia, United States and Bangladesh.

Semi Finished – Japan’s Semi Finished steel exports recorded a rise of 66% of Q-o-Q in Q2 CY’19 & exported about 856,013 MT, as against 514,401 MT during Q1’CY 19, while on an yearly basis the country’s exports dropped by 14% Y-o-Y as against 993,536 MT in Q2 CY’18.
In H1 2019, the exports stood at 1,370,414 MT, dropping by 29% Y-o-Y as against 1,934,204 MT in H1 2018.

Country-wise – Taiwan remained the largest importer occupying a share of 43% in total semi-finished imported from Japan in Q2 CY’19, as it imported 369,982 MT in the quarter, witnessing a rise of 91% Q-o-Q against 193,294MT imported in Q1 CY’19. Followed by other importers, South Korea with 290,567 MT in Q2 CY’19, up 57% Q-o-Q, with 34% share and Thailand (138,994 MT, up 107%) with 7 % of share. In H1 2019, Japanese scrap exports to Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand decreased by 33%, 9% and 16 % Y-o-Y respectively.

Finished Long – Japan’s finished long steel exports recorded a rise of 3% Q-o-Q in Q2 CY’19 & exported about 540,904 MT in the quarter, as against 560,080 MT during Q1’CY 19, while on a yearly basis the country’s exports dropped by 8% Y-o-Y as against 589,305 MT in Q2 CY’18.
In H1 2019, the exports stood at 1,100,984 MT, dropping by 7% Y-o-Y as against 1,184,626 MT in H1 2018.

Country-wise – South Korea remained the largest importer occupying a share of 34% in total finished long steel imported from Japan in Q2 CY’19, as it imported 182,719 MT in the quarter, witnessing a drop of 13% Q-o-Q against 210,282 MT imported in Q1 CY’19. Followed by other importers, USA with 138,994MT in Q2 CY’19, up by 147 % Q-o-Q, occupying the 2nd position with 26% share and Thailand with 83,300 MT in Q2 CY’19, up 3% Q-o-Q, with 15% share.

Japan Steel Exports in H1 2019

Source: SteelMint Stats