In January this year, Japanese galvanized sheet output increased by 9.3 percent compared to December 2012 and was down 0.5 percent year on year, amounting to 986,592 mt, according to data from the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).

Japan's galvanized sheet shipments amounted to 946,886 metric tons in January, increasing by 5.2 percent on month-on-month basis and up by 3.1 percent compared to January in the previous year. 70 percent of the country's galvanized sheet shipments in January were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 30 percent were made to the export markets.

Meanwhile, in January Japan's galvanized sheet inventories increased by four percent month on month to 1 million metric tons, and were down 6.75 percent year on year. 62 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 38 percent were held by steel traders.

The average domestic price for galvanized sheet in Japan in January was JPY 92,000/mt (approx. $954/mt), stable compared to the previous month and down JPY 5,000/mt (approx. $52/mt) year on year.