In January this year, Japan's hot rolled plate and sheet shipments increased by 5.75 percent compared to December 2012 and it were down 1.6 percent on year-on-year basis, amounting to 891,712 metric tons. 68.5 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 31.5 percent were made to the export markets, according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data.

In January, Japan's hot rolled strip shipments amounted to 1.6 million mt, up 0.7 percent over December last year and up 28.2 percent year on year, following the 11 percent year-on-year increase recorded in 2012. 25 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 75 percent were made to the export markets. In January, Japan's hot rolled strip production amounted to 1.6 million mt, up 18.5 percent compared to December and up 34.4 percent year on year.

Meanwhile, the average domestic price for HR plate and sheet in Japan in January this year year was JPY 74,000/mt (approx. $770/mt), stable compared to the previous month and down by JPY 11,000/mt (approx. $115/mt) year on year. The average domestic price for HR strip in the month in question was JPY 58,000/mt (approx. $604/mt), up by JPY 1,000/mt (approx. $10.4/mt) compared to the previous month and down by JPY 10,000/mt (approx. $104/mt) year on year.