Crude Steel Production of November Dip Below 8.5 Million Tons for the First Time in 11 Months

Japan Iron and Steel Federation announced on 19th crude steel production of November in Japan decreased by 2.3% from the previous year to 8.498 million tons, it is a decrease for 3 straight months, and below 8.5 million tons for the first time in 11 months. Output per day decreased by 0.6% from the previous month to 283,000 tons. Blast furnaces steel makers and electric furnaces special steel manufactures has been adjusting output on the background of worsening Japan-China relations, dropping output of automobile caused by the end of cash for clunkers and decreasing production of construction, industrial machinery.