Japan Earthquake Rebuilding Civil Work to Create Steel Demand

Japanese demand of steel sheet pile, pipe pile and other civil work steel products will be 120,000-140,000 tonnes for rebuilding activity in the major earthquake damaged area in northeast Japan in fiscal 2012 starting April. Nippon Steel estimated the demand based on projects to rebuild port facilities in Iwate and Miyagi. The firm expects around 60,000 tonnes of the demand in and after fiscal 2013.

The firm expects around 30,000 tonnes of construction demand for sheet pile and pipe pile in first half of fiscal 2012. The demand is around 50,000 tonnes in the second half. The firm expects additional around 40,000 tonnes of the demand for construction materials leasing especially in the first half.

The firm expects more than 200,000 tonnes of steel demand for guard rail and road and fishing port construction. The firm estimates total around 400,000 tonnes of steel demand including construction materials sheet and concrete reinforcing steel bar.

The rebuilding activity is slow in the area due to shortage of engineers in local governments and construction skilled workers. Nippon Steel tries to serve the activity to offer steel using working with short construction period.