Japan Raw Steel Output Hits Third High in 2006

Japanese raw steel output increased by 3.3% to 116.219 million tonnes in 2006 from 2005, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Friday. The output was third high after 1973 and 1974. The steel demand increased for domestic manufacturing industry for shipbuilding and automobile, which kept strong tone for construction while the export was good. The converter steel output increased by 2.8% to 85.965 million tonnes in 2006 from 2005 whiles the electric furnace steel output increased by 4.9% to 30.254 million tonnes. The electric furnace output rate rose by 0.4 points to 26% against all raw crude steel. The carbon steel output increased by 3.1% to 90.7 million tonnes while the special steel output increased by 4.0% to 25.52 million tonnes. The output of hot rolled steel products including special steel increased by 2.9% to 104.112 million tonnes in 2006 from 2005, which was over 100 million tonnes for 4 consecutive years. The special steel output was fourth high as half year output. The output of carbon steel hot rolled products increased by 2.9% to 20.952 million tonnes, which renewed record for 5 consecutive years. Japanese raw steel output increased by 10.6% to 10.05 million tonnes in December 2006 from November, which was second after December 1973, and which was over 10 million tonnes for 3 consecutive months. The converter steel output increased by 12.9% to 7.481 million tonnes in December from November while the electric furnace steel output increased by 4.3% to 2.569 million tonnes. The carbon steel output increased by 10.9% to 7.856 million tonnes while the special steel output increased by 9.6% to 2.194 million tonnes. The output of hot rolled steel products including special steel increased by 11.3% to 8.91 million tonnes in December from November, which increased for 7 consecutive months.Japanese major 5 integrated steel makers increased the raw steel output by 3.1% to 85.441 million tonnes in 2006 from 2005 when they kept almost full capacity operation under the firm demand for high valued steel products at home and abroad.