Japan’s Steel Exports Climb

Japan's steel exports topped 28.8 million metric tons during the first half of this year, rising 60.8 percent, according to the Japanese Ministry of Finance.

Steel imports from Japan topped 3.3 million metric tons during the first half of this year, an increase of 88.7 percent over the same period last year.

During the same period, Japan's iron and steel product exports to the U.S. rose by 23.2 percent to 666,000 metric tons, and exports to the European Union rose 61.3 percent to 223,000 metric tons. Iron and steel exports to China increased 35.8 percent to 3.78 million metric tons, while exports to the Middle East climbed 84.2 percent to 757,000 metric tons.

Iron and steel exports to the ASEAN countries rose 113.8 percent to 5.61 million metric tons, all compared to the first half of 2009.