Japan Special Steel Export Order Hits Record in 2010

Japanese special steel order receipt increased by 0.6% to 1.652 million tonnes in November from October, according to Japan Iron and Steel Federation. While the order from domestic users decreased by 1.9% to 1.044 million tonnes the export order increased by 5.2% to 608,205 tonnes, which represented more than 600,000 tonnes for the first time in 2 months. The annualized export order was record level.

The special steel order represented more than 1.6 million tonnes for 3 months in a row through November. The export order significantly increased. The monthly domestic order for construction and container marked yearly high in November. The order increased by 1.1% to 48,306 tonnes for construction and by 21.8% to 4,594 tonnes for container in November from October.

The order for domestic bearing hit historical high level at 80,351 tonnes in November, which increased by 3.9% from October. The export would increase more when special steel users shift the production to offshore sites.

The structural steel order from domestic users decreased by 0.8% to 557,813 tonnes in November from October. The tool steel order decreased by 7.3% to 17,676 tonnes.