Japan Steel Export Statistics: Q1-CY'19

Japan, the worlds third largest crude steel producer observed fall in exports of ferrous scrap, billets, finish flat steel and finish long steel along with fall in crude steel production in Q1'CY19 in comparison with the same quarter last year (Q1'CY18), the customs data maintained with SteelMint showed.

According to world steel association, Japan's crude steel output lowered to 24.97 MnT in Q1 CY'19 by 5% Y-o-Y as compared to 26.4 MnT in Q1 CY'18 and down 3% Q-o-Q against 25.69 MnT in Q4 CY'18.

Ferrous scrap exports marginally decline in Q1'CY19 - Japan exported 1,709,945 MT of ferrous scrap in Q1 CY'19, marginally declining by 1% Q-o-Q against 1,728,802 MT in Q4 CY'18 while exports dropped 3% Y-o-Y as against 1,763,063 MT ferrous scrap in Q1 CY'18. South Korean Hyundai Steel resumed open bids for imports of Japanese scrap towards ending of Q1'CY19.
Countrywise - South Korea remained the largest importer occupying a share of 64% in total scrap exports from Japan in Q1 CY'19. It imported 1,090,393 MT in Q1 CY'19, witnessing a rise of 14% Q-o-Q from Q4 CY'18. Followed by other prominent importers were Vietnam (401,704 MT), Taiwan (97,170 MT) and Bangladesh (55,553 MT) occupying 24%, 6% and 3% share respectably. Notably, China which was the 3rd largest importer in with 18% share (314155 MT) in Q3'CY18, dropped to a share of below 1% in Q1 CY'19 with just 12,043 MT in Q1'CY19. Stricter port inspection and low demand resulted in sharp fall Chinese scrap imports in Q1'CY19.
On monthly basis, scrap exports dropped 14% exporting 556,332 MT in Mar'19 as against 646,780 MT in Feb'19. Buying from South Korea and Vietnam recovered post-Chinese New Year holidays but no considerable bookings from Bangladesh seen in Feb-Mar'19.

Billet exports reduce by 41% Q-o-Q in Q1 CY'19 - Japan's billet exports recorded a decline of around 426,000 MT (Q-o-Q) in Q1 CY'19 & exported 514,401 MT billet, dropping by 45.31% as against 940,668 MT during the same period in 2018. Inline, the country's billet export registered a fall of 41.46% as against 878,838 MT in Oct-Dec'18.
Countrywise - Taiwan remains the largest importer of Japanese Billet in Jan-Mar'19, as the nation has contributed around 37.56% (193,204 MT), followed by South Korea (35.90%), Thailand (13.05%), China (4.90%), Indonesia (4.63%) & Philippines (3.69%). Billet exports to Taiwan in the first quarter of 2019 fell almost half (54.20%) as against 421,930 MT in Jan-Mar'18.
In Mar'19, the nation's billet exports were recorded at 194,427 MT, surge by around 13.9% M-o-M against 170,764 MT in Feb'19. While it was experienced that exports to Taiwan rise by 39.78% M-o-M to 83,994 MT in Mar'19. Inline, Billet exports to South Korea increased sharply by 9.59% M-o-M & stood at 69,875 MT in Feb'19.

Flat steel exports reduce by 14% Q-o-Q in Q1 CY'19 - Nation's flat steel exports drop by 14% to 5.51 MnT in Q1 CY'19 as compared to 6.42 MnT in Q4 CY'18. Exports of flat steel from Japan has declined due to disruptions in seasonal and production factors. Increased public spending results in strong domestic demand in the construction and architecture sector. The Government is focussing on the reconstruction of province after the devastation caused by natural disasters while it also expects that demand will pick up in housing and automobile sector.
On monthly basis nation's flat steel exports upsurge by 20% to 1.99 MnT in Mar'19 which was 1.66 MnT in the previous month. On yearly basis nation's imports shrink by 17% in Mar'19 as compared to 2.41 MnT in Mar'18.
Countrywise - Thailand remained the largest importer and accounts for 0.91 MnT in Q1 CY'19, plunged by 24% from 1.19 MnT in the previous quarter. Following this flat steel exports to China was 0.88 MnT, South Korea 0.73 MnT while Vietnam and Indonesia stood at 0.38 MnT each in the current quarter. Other nations importing flat steel from Japan in Q1 CY'19 were Indonesia, Mexico, India, United States and Malaysia.

Finish long exports fall by 11% Q-o-Q in Q1'CY19 - Long steel exports from Japan stood at 0.56 MnT in Q1'CY'19 as compared to 0.63 MnT in Q4'CY'18, amid weakened global demand and the US-China trade dispute.
On monthly basis, exports registered a surge by 23% to 0.22 MnT in Mar'19 as compared to 0.18 MnT in Feb'19. On yearly premises exports stood at 0.22 MnT in Mar'19 almost unchanged against Mar'18.
Commoditywise - Rebar exports were registered at 0.38 MnT in Q1'CY19 (fall by 15.5%) against 0.45 MnT in Q4'CY'18, whereas Structure exports remained unchanged on a quarterly basis and stood at 0.15 MnT in Q1'CY19 against Q4'CY'18. Wire rod exports recorded at 0.03 MnT unchanged on a quarterly basis.
Countrywise - The major exports of Finish Long Steel in march'19 registered through South Korea at 0.1 MnT rise by 67% as compared to previous month followed by Thailand - 0.03 MnT (unchanged) against the previous month.

Source: SteelMint Stats