Japan is world’s 2nd largest steel producing country and it ranked 20th in terms of steel imports in CY15. It usually imports majority of flat steel from countries like Korea Taiwan and China.
According to the latest customs data, Japan flat steel imports which includes 7208 (HR coils /Plates), 7209 (CR coils), 7225 (Electrical sheets), 7210/7212(GP/GC) have inched up by 6%, M-o-M basis to 0.38 MnT in Mar’17 as compared to 0.36 MnT in Feb’17.
If yearly comparison is made, then nation’s flat steel imports surged by 9% in Mar’17 against Mar’16.In Mar’16 the same stood at 0.35 MnT.
However, on Q-o-Q (Jan-Mar’17) basis nation’s flat steel imports are recorded at 1.12 MnT ,up by 4% against 1.08 MnT in similar time frame of previous year.

Grade-Wise Japan Flat Steel Imports -As per grade-wise analysis, 7208 imports increased by 1.07%, M-o-M in Mar’17 against Feb’17,whereas 7209 increased by 20.53% in Mar’17 against previous month. On the similar lines, other flat steel grades imports like 7212 and 7225 witnessed growth in Mar’17.However grade 7210 drop down by 4.26% in Mar’17 against last month.
Grade-Wise Flat Steel Analysis as on 2nd May’17
| H S Codes | Mar’16 | Feb’17 | Mar’17 | M-o-M(%) | Y-o-Y(%) |
| 7208 | 1,95,402 | 2,13,537 | 2,15,814 | 1.07 | 10.45 |
| 7209 | 61,319 | 74,407 | 89,685 | 20.53 | 46.26 |
| 7210 | 62,522 | 60,728 | 58,144 | -4.26 | -7 |
| 7225 | 18,966 | 14,130 | 17,226 | 21.91 | -9.17 |
| 7212 | 767 | 372 | 895 | 58.4 | 16.68 |
Fig in MT
Source-SteelMint Stats
Country-Wise Japan Flat Steel Imports in Mar’17
Korea stood as the major flat steel exporter to Japan and exported 2,75,757 MT in Mar’17 against 2,48,508 MT in Feb’17.Other major countries include Taiwan and China.


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