Japan Raw Steel Output Increases to 83 Million Tonnes in F2005

Japanese 5 integrated steel makers produced 82.939 million tonnes of raw steel in fiscal 2005 ended March 2006, increasing by 0.2% from fiscal 2004. The production represented 73.6% of Japanese total raw steel output in fiscal 2005, increasing by 0.3 percentage points from fiscal 2004. The integrated steels could keep the high output level through the year with firm demand for high grade steels, while integrated steels reduced their output in the second half of fiscal 2005 to adjust inventory volume of commodity steels in Japanese market.Nippon Steel’s raw steel production increased by 4.1% in fiscal 2005 from fiscal 2004 and its market share also increased by 1.1 points to 28.1%, when the firm had electric power failure accident at Nagoya works in fiscal 2004. At Kimitsu works raw steel production exceeded 10 million tonnes for the first time.JFE Steel’s raw steel output decreased by 3.4% and its market share also decreased by 0.8 points to 23.7% in fiscal 2005 from fiscal 2004 due to some troubles in blast furnace operation and shipment reduction of commodity steel products for export in half year to September 2005.