Japan 5 Integrated Steels’ Crude Steel Output Totals 33MT in 1H

Japanese 5 integrated steel makers’ crude steel output totaled 33.24 million tonnes for April-September 2009, minus by 27.1% from the same period of 2008. The production represented 30% year-to-year minus at Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel. The output decreased by 23-28% at JFE Steel, Sumitomo Metal Industries and Nisshin Steel.

Nippon Steel’s output decreased by 29.8% to 11.8 million tonnes in the fist half of fiscal 2009 from same period of fiscal 2008. The firm largely decreased crude steel production during April-September by suspension of 2 blast furnaces at Oita works and Kimitsu works. Additionally, a blast furnace in Kimitsu works entered a trouble at the end of August. Kimitsu works’ monthly crude steel output was 360,000 tonnes in September, lower by 60.6% year-to-year.

JFE Steel’s crude steel production decreased by 22.5% to 12.01 million tonnes for April-September from a year earlier. The firm started output reduction during second half of fiscal 2008, earlier than other steel makers, and the output minus in April-September was relatively narrower.

Sumitomo Metals’ output decreased by 28% to 5.07 million tonnes, Kobe Steel’s by 31.1% to 2.88 million tonnes and Nisshin Steel by 27.7% to 1.47 million tonnes in the first half from same period of fiscal 2008.

The 5 integrated steels’ monthly production totaled 6.42 million tonnes in September, minus by 14.2% from a year earlier. The output was lower by 2.5% compared with August while the output per day was 214,067 tonnes, higher than 212,581 tonnes in August.

Their pig iron production totaled 32.33 million tonnes for April-September, minus by 26.6% from the same period of 2008. The monthly output in September was 6.05 million tonnes, lower by 17% year-to-year. The monthly output was lower by 3.1% compared with August while the output per day was 201,633 tonnes, higher than 201,290 tonnes in August.