Japan Special Steel Products Production Becomes to 5.3 MT in Apr-Jun

Japanese production of hot-rolled special steel products would become to 5.3059 million tonnes in April-June 2006 according to output plans by Japanese special steel makers, increasing by 0.6% from January-March 2006 and by 2.6% from April-June 2005, announced Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The production would exceed 5.047 million tonnes of Ministry’s demand estimate for April-June by 5.1%. The production increases when Japanese export of hot-rolled special steel products would increase in April-June from January-March thanks to inventory adjustment and price recovery in Asian stainless steel market. Japanese crude steel production for special steel could also increase by about 70,000 tonnes from January-March 2006. Japanese hot-rolled special steel products production would decrease slightly for domestic market in April-June 2006 from January-March 2006 since April-June is the quarter following Japanese major fiscal year ending March, though domestic steel demand maintains firm for automobile and building construction. On the other hand, the production for export would increase significantly, mainly stainless steel sheet and special steel products for automobile. The export would push up the total special steel production. Japanese production of hot-rolled special steel products would increase in April-June from the previous quarter for 3 straight periods and from the same quarter of the previous year for 17 straight periods.