Japan Long Product Output Drops Down in November

Japanese common steel output by electric furnaces decreased by 4.3% to 1.91 million tonnes in November from a year ago, which represented year-to-year down for the first time in late 3 months. The output decreased by 4.4% in November from the previous month. Electric furnace steel makers reduced their production largely when the demand for building construction much decreased due to the revision of Japanese building standard law. They expanded the output reduction in December. Domestic total production is expected to continue downward trend.The output of reinforcing steel bar markedly decreased. Rebar production by electric furnace steel makers decreased by 13.9% to 950,000 tonnes in November from a year earlier, decreasing by 9.6% from October. The output fell to below 1 million tonnes despite of the autumn demand season and is expected to more decrease for January-March 2008. The production might recover after April 2008.H-beam output decreased by 1.5% to 395,119 tonnes in November from a year ago and by 6.1% from October. The output represented year-to-year down for the first time since September 2005. Japanese integrated steel makers considerably reduced the output.