Only Nippon Steel Gains Hot Coil Output Share in F2009

Nippon Steel increased the hot rolled coil output share in Japan in fiscal 2009 ended March 2010 from fiscal 2008 while all other makers decreased the share due to the demand decline in the first half due to the global economy deterioration. Japanese output increased by 1.7% to 40.83 million tonne and only Nippon Steel increased the output by 7.8%.

Nippon Steel’s hot rolled coil production share increased by 2.6 percentage points to 40.6% in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008 while the firm’s raw steel output decreased. The firm increased the export by increasing the output with higher semi-finished products inventory and slab supply from the partners.

All steel makers stayed in same positions in fiscal 2009 as fiscal 2008. JFE Steel’s hot coil output share decreased by 0.8 points to 35.5%.The share decreased by 0.3 points for Sumitomo Metal Industries and Nisshin Steel to 10.1% and 6.2% respectively. Kobe Steel’s production share decreased by 0.2 points to 5.2%.

Nakayama Steel Works’ production share declined by 0.1 point to 1.4% in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008. Tokyo Steel Manufacturing’s production share decreased by 0.5 points to 1.0%. The output decreased by 5.5% for Nakayama Steel Works and by 31.6% for Tokyo Steel when construction demand significantly decreased. Tokyo Steel’s output was affected by the trouble in electric furnace at Okayama plant in May 2009.