Japan, Cold Finished Bars Maker Seems to Continue Good Condition in Fiscal 2006

Japan, the demand of the cold finished bars and the steel wire for automobile, industry machine or construction machine is more recovering. This production volume in 2005 is expected at 1.27-1.28 million tonnes by Japanese Cold Finished Bars Maker’s association. It would increase for 3 consecutive months because Japanese automobile production is expanding. In last year, Cold finished bars makers had trouble to their supply because they couldn’t purchase the material of the special steel enough. They had been advancing the hike of the products since the material price rose, their profitability is improving. Domestic automobile production in fiscal 2001 at the ended of March was 9.81 million cars. It continued to increase, and recorded at 10.61 million cars in fiscal 2004. Industry machine and construction machine industry is good condition by Chinese demand. Meanwhile, the material price increased severely in this few years. Since the cold finished bars and steel wire price improved. Major cold finished bars maker said that many makers got great profit in last year. Automobile production in fiscal 2005 is expected to become at 10.7 million cars; knock down sets export is expected to become at 7.8 million cars from at 7.45 million cars in fiscal 2004. Major cold finished bars maker expects that the cold finished bars and steel wire shipping in fiscal 2006 become same level or exceeding fiscal 2005. It seems that the cold finished bars industry in fiscal 2006 would continue to be good condition.