Japan Crude Steel Output Decreases by 5.5% in November

Japanese crude steel output decreased by 5.5% to 8.984 million tonnes in November from October, the first minus in 3 months, according to Japan Iron & Steel Federation. The output represented below 9 million tonnes for the first time in 3 months. Average output per day decreased by 2.3% in November from October, down for 2 months in a row. The accumulative production increased by 27.8% to 100.4 million tonnes for January-November from the same period of 2009. The 11-month production exceeded the annual output in CY2009. The annual production is expected to exceed 100 million tonnes after 2 years and reach 1.09 million tonnes, the highest level in late 3 years.

Converter steel production decreased by 6.1% to 6.893 million tonnes in November from October. The production decreased for the first time in recent 3 months and represented below 7 million tonnes for the first time since April. By year-to-year comparison, converter steel production decreased by 2.1%, the first minus in 13 months. Electric furnace steel production decreased by 34% to 2.092 million tonnes in November from October, the first minus in late 3 months. By year-to-year comparison, the output increased by 15.5%, plus for 12 straight months.

Carbon steel output decreased by 5.5% to 6.872 million tonnes in November from October, which decreased for the first time in 3 months and represented below 7 million tonnes for the first time in 3 months. Special steel output decreased by 5.4% to 2.113 million tonnes, the first minus in recent 3 months. By year-to-year comparison, carbon steel decreased by 2.0% while special steel decreased by 14.6%.

Output of hot rolled steel products decreased by 3.6% to 7.929 million tonnes in November from October. The volume downed for 2 months in a row and represented below 8 million tonnes for the first time in 3 months. By items, carbon steel sheet output was 4.612 million tonnes, decreasing by 5.0% month-to-month and by 1.5% year-to-year. Wide hot strip decreased by 4.9% to 3.483 million tonnes from October, minus for 2 months in a row. Steel plate increased by 11.7% to 1.067 million tonnes, plus for 9 consecutive months. Carbon long products totaled 1.503 million tonnes, decreasing by 0.1% from October while increasing by 4.2% from a year earlier.