According to trade statistics from the Ministry of Finance of Japan, Japan imported 25,260 tons of stainless steel (steel plates, steel bars, wire rods and steel wires, and steel pipes) in June, up by 4.9% year on year, of which imports of stainless cold-rolled steel plates were 16,450 tons, up by 5.6% year on year.

In June, the largest share of materials imported from China was 8,129 tons, up by 72.9% year on year. Among them, the import volume of chrome cold-rolled products increased significantly, totaling 2,965 tons, accounting for 18% of the total stainless steel cold-rolled products.

Imports from Taiwan and South Korea were 4,611 tons and 3,200 tons, down by 13% and 37% respectively, which led to an increase in the proportion of Chinese materials to 49%.