Thailand emerged as the top importer of Japanese steel products for the first time in 2018, as major Japanese makers of cars, home appliances and machinery have moved into Southeast Asia's biggest production hub.
Japan shipped 5.9 million tons of steel products to Thailand last year, up 5.2 percent from a year ago and surpassing South Korea and China, which had been Japan's two largest steel consumers for the last two decades.
South Korea imported 5.4 million tons, down 9.5 percent, and China imported 5.6 million tons, a 1 percent dip, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation said Thursday.