Japan Steel Export Drops by 4% to 8.3M tonnes for ASEAN in 2005

Japanese steel output is expected to decrease by around 4% to 8.3 million tonnes for Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2005 from 2004. Japanese integrated steel makers reduced export after Asian market turned into oversupply in spring of 2005. The export decreased in the mid-year and it decreased by more than 30% in December from a year earlier. ASEAN steel demand is expected to keep firm in 2006. However, the export market could be suffered from supply adjustment, especially in China.Japanese steel export decreased by 1.1% to 7.764 million tonnes for ASEAN 6 countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippine, Singapore and Vietnam in January-November from same period of 2004. The export increased by 8.6% in the first half year while it started to decrease in July and decreased by 12.2% in July-November. The export decreased by 32.8% to 546,000 tonnes in November from a year earlier. The annual rate decreased to 6.5 million tonnes. The export is expected to decrease by such big in December with the export condition in October and November.