Japan: Billets export drop 8% m-o-m in Sep'21

Japan registered billets export of 0.24 million tonnes (mn t) in Sep'21, down by 8% m-o-m as compared to 0.26 mn t in Aug'21, data maintained with SteelMint shows. Higher domestic steel demand and weaker Chinese buying interest could probably be the reason for the decline in overall exports.

Taiwan largest importer

Taiwan continued to be the largest importer of steel billets from Japan at 0.10 mn t in Sep'21. However the import volumes were down on month by 28% as against 0.14 mn t in Aug'21.

South Korea acquired the second position among the top importers' list with 0.08 mn t in Sep'21, a m-o-m increase of 14%. Following this was Thailand with 0.03 mn t, down by 25%, m-o-m.

China imported 0.02 mn t of steel billets from Japan in Sep'21, according to customs data maintained with SteelMint.

Billets export drop 17% in Jan-Sep'21

Exports of steel billets from Japan stood at 2.48 mn t in Jan-Sep'21, a y-o-y decline of 17% as against 2.98 mn t in Jan-Sep'20.

Taiwan was the largest importer of steel billets with 0.94 mn t in this period, though the volumes fell by 4%, y-o-y.

South Korea was the second-largest importer with 0.70 mn t in Jan-Sep'21, down 10%, followed by Thailand with 0.32 mn t, down 27%.

China's billets import from Japan were recorded at 0.22 mn t in Jan-Sep'21, decreasing by 49% compared to 0.43 mn t in Jan-Sep'20.