Japan: Steel Imports Plunge in Q1 CY'20

Imports of Japanese raw materials and finished steel fell in Q1 CY'20, as per the custom data maintained by SteelMint.

Dull demand may have resulted in fall in import volumes. Major mills like Nippon Steel, JFE have also announced to cut output on dull demand and to make up with the weak demand over COVID-19 outbreak. And it is expected that demand may weaken further in Q2 CY'20.

Coal imports were marginally down by around 3% to 48.47 MnT in Q1 CY'20 against 49.94 MnT in Q4 CY'19.

Iron Ore imports were registered at 26.94 MnT in Q1 CY'20, down by 10% against 29.9 MnT in Q4 CY'19.

-- On a monthly basis, import volume decreased by 11.8 % and was registered at 8.39 MnT in Mar'20 as against 9.51 MnT in Feb'20.

Finish Flat Steel imports were registered at 1.04 MnT in Q1 CY'20, plunged by 15% from 1.22 MnT in Q4 CY'19.

-- On M-o-M basis, imports stood at 0.35 MnT in Mar'20, up by 9.4% against 0.32 MnT in Feb'20.

Finish Long Steel imports were registered at 0.15 MnT in Q1 CY'20, plunged by 16.7% as compared to 0.18 MnT in Q4 CY'19.

-- On a monthly basis, import volume stood at 0.06 MnT in Mar'20 which increased sharply by 50% against 0.04 MnT in Feb'20.

Ferro Alloy imports were registered at 0.66 MnT in Q1 CY'20, up by 8.2% as compared to 0.61 MnT in Q4 CY'19.

-- In Mar'20, import volume was observed at 0.18 MnT, down by 14.3% M-o-M as against 0.21 MnT in Feb'20.