Japan Raw Steel Output Hits Third High in 1H

Japanese raw steel output increased by 2.2% to 58.055 million tonnes in April-September from same period of 2005, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Thursday. The output was third high as the first half fiscal year after 1973 and 1974 and fourth high as half year including second half. Electric furnace steel makers increased the output along with high level output by integrated steel makers under firm steel demand at home and abroad. The converter steel output increased by 1% to 42.884 million tonnes in the fist half year from same period of 2005 while electric furnace steel output increased by 5.9% to 15.17 million tonnes. The carbon steel output increased by 2% to 45.391 million tonnes while the special steel output increased by 2.8% to record 12.663 million tonnes, which exceeded output in second half of fiscal 2005 ended April 2006. The output of hot rolled steel products including special steel increased by 2.4% to 52.055 million tonnes in the first half from same period of 2005. The output was fourth high as half year output. The output of carbon steel hot rolled products increased by 2.3% to 41.658 million tonnes. The output of largest item of hot rolled wide strip coil increased by 0.4% to 22.521 million tonnes. The output increased by 8.3% to 6.052 million tonnes for small sized steel bar and by 18.9% to 2.24 million tonnes for H-beam while the plate output decreased by 1.7% to 5.912 million tonnes. The output of special steel hot rolled products increased by 2.7% to 10.396 million tonnes, which was all time high as half year.