In March 2024, Japan experienced a significant increase in hot rolled plate and sheet shipments, rising by 11.8% compared to the previous month. According to data from the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF), shipments reached 771,441 metric tons, marking a decrease of 8.3% from the same period in 2023 when 841,749 metric tons were recorded. Domestic markets received 71.5% of these shipments, with the remaining 28.5% destined for export.

During the same month, Japan's production of hot rolled plate and sheet totaled 800,350 metric tons, showing a notable 13.5% increase from the previous month but a slight 2.2% decline compared to the previous year.

In a parallel trend, Japan's hot rolled strip shipments in March amounted to 1.39 million metric tons, reflecting a substantial 26.3% increase from the previous month but a 2.5% decrease year-on-year. Domestic markets received 19.7% of these shipments, while 80.3% were exported. The production of hot rolled strip in Japan for the same period reached 1.34 million metric tons, showing a 13.2% increase from the previous month but a 9.2% decrease compared to the previous year.