Japan Crude Steel Output Decreases in April

Japanese crude steel production decreased by 1.3% to 9.35 million tonnes in April from a year ago, which decreased for the first time in 3 months, announced Japan Iron & Steel Federation on Friday. Converter steel production decreased by 2.3% to 6.78 million tonnes, while electric furnace steel production increased by 1.5% to 2.57 million tonnes, when Japanese integrated steel makers have reduced steel sheet production for domestic inventory adjustment.The production of ordinary steel ingot decreased by 2.1% to 7.26 million tonnes in April from a year ago, decreasing for the first time in 3 months. Specialty steel ingot increased by 1.5% to 2.09 million tonnes, increasing for 4 consecutive months.Hot-rolled steel products decreased by 1.5% to 8.33 million tonnes in April from a year earlier. Hot-rolled ordinary steels decreased by 2.3% to 6.62 million tonnes, long products of which increased by 6.2% to 1.99 million tonnes and flat products of which decreased by 5.6% to 4.55 million tonnes. Wide strip, which represents the largest volume in total hot-rolled ordinary steels, decreased by 4.7% to 3.56 million tonnes, decreasing for 11 straight months. Steel plate decreased by 6.9% to 900,000 tonnes, decreasing for the first time in 4 months. Small bar increased by 7.7% to 1.01 million tonnes. H-beam increased by 9.7% to 330,000 tonnes which increased for 7 months in a row. Large shape steels increased by 17.8% to 120,000 tonnes and middle and small sized shapes increased by 14.5% to 130,000 tonnes, both of which increased for 5 straight months.Hot-rolled specialty steels increased by 1.9% to 1.71 million tonnes, increasing for the first time in 2 months.