Japan Pig Iron Consumption Increases in July

Japanese monthly pig iron consumption exceeded 7 million tonnes for converter steel for the first time in a year and exceeded 80,000 tonnes for electric furnace steel for the first time in 6 months in July.The amount of Japanese pig iron consumption was 7.266 million tones in July, increasing by 4.3% from June and by 1.7% from a year ago, according to Japan Ferrous Raw Materials Association. The consumption was 7.125 million tonnes for converter steel, increasing by 4.3% from June and by 1.5% from a year ago, and was 85,000 tonnes for electric furnace steel, increasing by 10.4% from June and by 30.8% over the same month of 2005. The compounding ratio of pig iron for electric furnace steel was average 3.3% in July, which was 2.8% in June 2006 and July 2005.Pig iron supply also increased to 7.393 million tonnes in June, increasing by 7.7% from a month ago and by 1.7% from a year ago. The pig iron production in Japan was7.248 million tonnes in July, increasing by 5.5% from June and by 1.8% from a year ago. Pig iron import was 145,000 tonnes, increasing by 9.8% from June and decreasing by 4% from July 2005. The import exceeded 100,000 tonnes for 2 consecutive months and marked record of July.