Japan Crude Steel Share Moves among Electric Furnaces in F2008

Japanese steel makers’ crude steel output share changed for some of electric furnace steel makers in fiscal 2008 (Apr08-Mar09). Kyoei Steel shifted to the seventh place from the eighth place instead of JFE Bars & Shapes. Godo Steel entered the top 10 makers. Share orders didn’t change for 5 integrated steel makers. Total crude steel production was 105.5 million tonnes through fiscal 2008, down by 13.2% from fiscal 2007.

Nippon Steel’s crude steel output decreased by 13.8% to 29 million tonnes in fiscal 2008 from fiscal 2007. The share lowered by 0.2 points to 27.5%. JFE Steel’s production decreased by 13% to 26.55 million tonnes, whose share upped by 0.1 points to 25.2%.

Sumitomo Metal Industries’ production decreased by 5.5% to 12.87 million tonnes. The share upped by 1.0 point to 12.2%. Kobe Steel’s output decreased by 10.4% to 7.23 million tonnes. The share upped by 0.3 points to 6.9%. Nisshin Steel’s share upped by 0.1 points to 3.5%, whose production decreased by 10.6% to 3.68 million tonnes.

Among electric furnace special steel makers, Daido Steel’s crude steel output shrank by 25.4% to 1.42 million tonnes and the share lowered by 0.3 points to 1.3%. The share place was ninth.

As to electric furnace carbon steel makers, output share was affected by each maker’s main items. Tokyo Steel Manufacturing kept the sixth place. JFE Bars& Shapes lowered to the eighth place along demand decline for shape and special wire rod. Kyoei Steel became the seventh place instead and Godo Steel rose to the tenth place from eleventh thanks to stable export of concrete reinforcing bar and billet.