Japan Raw Steel Output Drops by 1.2% in May

Japanese raw steel output decreased by 1.2% to 9.918 million tonnes in May from a year earlier, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Monday. The output decreased for 2 months in a row when integrated steel makers reduced the converter steel output by 1.9% to 7.223 million tonnes to reduce sheet inventory. The electric furnace steel output increased by 1.0% to 2.695 million tonnes, which increased for 6 months in a row. The carbon steel output decreased by 1.3% to 7.788 million tonnes in May from a year earlier, which decreased for 2 months in a row. The special steel output decreased by 0.6% to 2.13 million tonnes, which decreased for the first time in 5 months. The hot rolled steel products output including special steel decreased by 1.5% to 8.743 million tonnes.