Japan Raw Steel Output was Second Highest in February

Japanese raw steel output increased by 3.6% to 9.2 million tonnes in February from a year ago, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Monday. The output increased for 9 consecutive months, and was 2nd highest as a month following at 9.237 million tonnes in 1980. The output kept high level for both converter steel and electric furnace steel thanks to the strong demand for domestic market and export.The output for converter increased by 2.25 to 6.719 million tonnes and for electric furnace increased by 7.6% to 2.481 million tonnes in February.The output amount for April 2006-February 2007 increased by 4.3% to 17.482 million to tonnes.The carbon steel output increased by 2.8% to 7.074 million tonnes in February from a year ago while the special steel output increased by 6.6% to 2.126 million tonnes. The output increased for 9 consecutive months for carbon steel and for 14 consecutive months for the special steel.The output increased by 5.5% to 1.94 million tonnes for long products and by 3.3% to 4.606 million tonnes for flat products.As for flat products, the output for hot-rolled strip increased by 3.1% to 3.528 million tonnes, which increased from a year ago for 9 consecutive months. The output for steel plate increased by 5.9% to 998,000 tonnes, which increased for 4 consecutive months in February.As for long products, the output increased by 2.8% to 936,000 tonnes for small bar in February from a year earlier and by 17.9% to 368,000 tonnes for H-beam, which increased for 17 consecutive months for both flat products and long products.