Japan Raw Steel Output Exceeds 8MT for 6 Straight Months

Japanese raw steel output totaled 8.723 million tonnes in January, plus by 36.8% from a year earlier, announced by Japan Iron & Steel Federation on Thursday. The output represented year-to-year plus for 3 months in a row and exceeded 8 million tonnes for 6 straight months. By month-to-month comparison, the production decreased by 2.5% from December 2009, the first down in 4 months. Since April 2009, the 10-month production decreased by 16.6% to 78.66 million tonnes compared with the same period of fiscal 2008.

Converter steel production decreased by 2% to 7.114 million tonnes in January from December. The volume represented the first month-to-month down since September 2009. Electric furnace steel production decreased by 4.8% to 1.608 million tonnes, which lowered for 4 consecutive months. By year-to-year comparison, converter steel increased by 39.9%, plus for 3 straight months, while electric furnace steel increased by 24.5%, plus for 2 months in a row.

Carbon steel output was 6.944 million tonnes in January, minus by 1.3% from December 2009. The volume downed after 2 months. Special steel output was 1.779 million tonnes, down by 7.1% from December. The volume showed the first month-to-month down in 11 months. by year-to-year comparison, carbon steel increased by 33.9%, plus for 3 straight months, while special steel increased by 48.9%, plus for 2 months in a row.

Hot rolled steel production was 7.851 million tonnes in January, plus by 1% from December. The volume increased for 2 consecutive months. Compared with a year earlier, the production increased by 44.4%, plus for 2 months in a row.

See an attached table.