Japan H-Beam Shipment Rises by 6% in April-June

Japanese H-beam output increased by 11% to 1.099 million tonnes in April-June from same period of 2005, according to Japan Iron and Steel Federation. The shipment increased by 9% to 1.057 million tonnes, in which shipment for domestic market increased by 6% to 1.019 million tonnes. Japanese integrated steel maker source said the domestic consumption was just more than 900,000 tonnes.

The international price increased in April-June due to worldwide tight supply of steel products. The Japanese export increased by 290% to 39,000 tonnes in April-June from same period of 2005 while the import decreased by 33% to 31,000 tonnes. The higher export apparently lifted the domestic output. The trend of higher export and lower import is likely to continue.

Integrated steel maker expects the domestic demand will increase by 50,000 tonnes to 950,000 tonnes in July-September from same period of 2005. The demand will be flat or slight increase at 3.6-3.7 million tonnes for the full year to March 2007 from previous year.

See attached file.