Japan's shipments of cold-rolled steel sheets and strips increased by 3.6% in February compared to the previous month, but decreased by 4.4% year-on-year. The total shipments amounted to 362,409 metric tons, with 51.1% going to the domestic market and the remaining 48.9% to export markets. Meanwhile, inventories of CR sheet and strip rose by 5.1% compared to the previous month and 1.7% year-on-year, reaching 742,820 metric tons. CR sheet and strip production in Japan decreased by 11.8% month-on-month and increased by 9.6% year-on-year, amounting to 398,208 metric tons.