Japan Building Steel Demand Increases by 12.7% in August

Japanese demand of steel structure for building increased by 12.7% to 399,750 tonnes in August from a year earlier, which increased for 5 months in a row. The demand, which is estimated from Japanese building starts released by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, is firm since Japanese fiscal year started in April and at 10% higher pace than a year earlier level.

The steel demand for building was 1.925 million tonnes in April-August, which was 9.5% higher than year earlier level. The demand would keep around 10% higher pace in and after September than same period of 2010 when building construction activity increases even for small and medium sized building.

The building steel consumption is concentrated in large cities. However, steel shape consumption increases for rebuilding in other areas. Japanese private nonresidential building starts increased by 19.4% in August from a year earlier. The construction demand is increasing while the steel demand delays for rebuilding activity in area damaged by the major earthquake.