Japan Raw Steel Output Rises by 4.5% in July

Japanese raw steel output increased by 4.5% to 9.858 million tonnes in July from a year earlier, which increased for 2 months in a row, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Monday. The converter steel output increased by 2.4% to 7.362 million tonnes in July from a year earlier and the electric furnace steel output increased by 11.5% to 2.496 million tonnes. The carbon steel output increased by 4.6% to 7.742 million tonnes while the special steel output increased by 4.2% to 2.116 million tonnes. The hot rolled steel products output increased by 4.3% to 8.867 million tonnes including special steel. Japanese 5 major integrated steel makers increased the raw steel output by 2.8% to 7.322 million tonnes in July from a year earlier. The output increased by 4.2% from June when domestic sheet steel inventory adjustment finished along with higher export volume. JFE Steel increased the output by 10.5% to 2.461 million tonnes from a year earlier while Nippon Steel increased the output by 0.9% to 2.721 million tonnes.