Japan Steel Bar Production Decreases in August from July

Japanese production of small sized steel bar was 955,010 tonnes in August, decreasing by 6% from July and increasing by 12.3% from August 2005, according to Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Concrete reinforcing bar was 880,393 tonnes, decreasing by 7.3% from the previous month and increasing by 13.2% from a year ago.Small sized steel bar shipment was 989,166 tonnes in August which decreased by 2.7% from July and increased by 9.9% from a year earlier. Shipment for domestic market was 970,182 tonnes, decreasing by 1.7% from July and increasing by 12.8% from August 2005, and the export decreased by 36% to 18,984 tonnes.The inventory at domestic makers and dealers decreased by 6.1% to 521,745 tonnes in August from the previous month, which increased by 18.1% from a year earlier. The inventory at makers was 478,429 tonnes which decreased by 6.5% from July and increased by 17.5% from August 2005. The inventory at dealers decreased by 2.2% and increased by 25.2% to 43,316 tonnes. Inventory to shipment decreased by 2 percentage points to 52.7% in August from the previous month.Japanese export of small sized steel bar was 45,322 tonnes in August, decreasing by 8.5% from July and by 1% from August 2005, according to Ministry of Finance.