Japan’s iron ore imports dropped to approximately 8.4 million tons in July, reflecting an 8.6% decrease from the previous year due to a slowdown in steel demand. Supplies from Australia, Japan’s primary supplier, fell by 13.6% to 4.6 million tons, while imports from Brazil saw an 8.9% rise, reaching 3.1 million tons.
The decline in imports is largely attributed to weakened steel demand, particularly within the automotive sector. According to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF), orders for ordinary steel used in automobiles fell by 10.4% in June. This downward trend is expected to continue through September, with production suspensions by some manufacturers, including Toyota, contributing to the ongoing slump.
Japanese steel producers are increasingly concerned about the influx of foreign steel, especially from China. Imports of ordinary steel products from China surged by 43% between April and June, heightening fears of a growing demand-supply imbalance. Despite these concerns, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) is currently monitoring the situation and has not announced any immediate plans for intervention.
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