Nippon Steel, JFE Steel Gain Higher Raw Steel Output Share in F2009

Nippon Steel and JFE Steel increased the raw steel output share in Japan in fiscal 2009 ended March 2010 from fiscal 2008. Japanese major integrated steel makers’ raw steel output decreased by 5.1% to 75.75 million tonnes while the national production decreased by 8.6% to 96.45 million tonnes. The electric furnace steel makers’ output decreased by 19.5% to 20.7 million tonnes due to slow domestic construction market.

Nippon Steel’s raw steel output share increased by 1.6 percentage points to 29.1% in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008. JFE Steel’s output share increased by 1.6 points to 26.8%. The share decreased by 0.1 point for Sumitomo Metal Industries, Kobe Steel and Nisshin Steel.

Tokyo Steel stayed in 6th position in fiscal 2009 as fiscal 2008 while the raw steel output decreased by 36.3% to 1.9 million tonnes. JFE Bars & Shapes was up to 7th from 8th while Kyoei Steel was down to 8th from 7th. The output decreased by 3.9% to 1.43 million tonnes for JFE Bars & Shapes and by 17.9% to 1.39 million tonnes. Daido Steel kept 9th position while the output decreased by 13.5% to 1.23 million tonnes.