Japan Rebar Makers to Reduce Output Widely

Godo Steel and Tokyo Tekko reduce concrete reinforcing steel bar output by 40% to 78,800 tonnes in January-March 2008 from same period of 2007. They expand the yearend and new year idling along with outage for maintenance when the demand is very slow due to low level building starts. They expect the shipment will decrease by more than 30% in the period. Japanese largest rebar maker of Kyoei Steel also expands the output reduction in December to reduce the output by 25% at Hirakata, Osaka and by 30% at Nagoya from a year earlier compared with 20% reduction in November. The firm keeps the low level output in January to meet low level demand. Japanese building starts decreased by 53% in floor space for reinforced concrete structure in October from a year earlier. Building start clearance is very slow due to confusion in transition process to new building standard law started in June.