Japanese Crude Steel Output Decreases after 2 Months in June

Japanese crude steel production decreased by 3.8% to 9.352 million tonnes in June from May, which turned down after 2 months, according to Japan Iron & Steel Federation. The averaged production decreased by 0.6% to 311,700 tonnes per day, down after 2 months. The monthly production was higher by 35.9% than a year earlier but lower by 9.8% than 2 years ago before Lehman Shock. Half-year production totaled 54.573 million tonnes for January-June, plus by 48.7% year-on-year while minus by 11.8% compared with the half-year record of January-June 2008.

Converter steel production was 42.854 million tonnes for January-June, plus by 53.1% year-on-year while minus by 6.9% compared with January-June 2008. Electric furnace steel production totaled 11.72 million tonnes for January-June, plus by 34.8% from a year earlier while minus by 26.1% from 2 years ago. Carbon steel output increased by 40% to 42.59 million tonnes and special steel output increased by 91.5% to 11.98 million tonnes for January-June from the corresponding period of 2009 while decreasing by 11.6% and by 12.8% from 2 years earlier.

Japanese output of hot rolled steel products totaled 49.125 million tonnes for January-June, plus by 53.4% from a year earlier while minus by 11.6% from 2 years ago. Hot rolled carbon steel products increased by 45.1% to 39.192 million tonnes and hot rolled special steel products increased by 98.7% to 9.934 million tonnes from a year earlier. Compared with January-June 2008, carbon steel products decreased by 11.3% and special steel products downed by 12.8%.

As to monthly production, converter steel decreased by 4% to 7.216 million tonnes in June from May, which downturned after 2 months. Electric furnace steel decreased by 3.4% to 2.136 million tonnes, the first minus in 5 months. Carbon steel decreased by 4.8% to 7.217 million tonnes and special steel lowered by 0.5% to 2.135 million tonnes, both of which represented minus after 2 months.

Hot rolled steel products kept flat at 8.49 million tonnes in June from May. Hot rolled carbon steel products decreased by 1% to 6.708 million tonnes, the first minus in 2 months, while hot rolled special steel products increased by 3.8% to 1.781 million tonnes, plus for 2 months in a row.