Japan's steel exports fell for a second consecutive year in 2025, mainly due to fewer exports to China and South Korea. The annual export volume fell by 4.2% y-o-y to 30.39 million tons. 

In 2025, Japan's steel export to China dropped by 12.6% to 2.34 million tons, while its steel export to South Korea decreased by 19.7%, reaching 3.84 million tons. However, Japan's steel exports to Thailand increased by 1.4%, reaching 4.35 million tons. Thailand became Japan's largest steel export market in 2025. 

According to the forecast released by the Japanese government, the country's first-quarter steel export shall be 6.26 million tons, decreasing by 0.5% y-o-y.