Japan Common Steel Orders Decrease by 31.7% in May

Order reception volume at Japanese steel makers for common steel products decreased by 31.7% to 4.586 million tonnes in May from a year earlier, which decreased for 10 consecutive months, announced Japan Iron & Steel Federation on Friday. Orders increased by 0.9% in May from April, which increased for 2 consecutive months.

Order reception volume decreased to 2.81 million tonnes by 41.9% for domestic market in May from a year earlier while increased by 1.0% from April. Order reception volume decreased to 1.305 million tonnes by 42.6% tor manufacturing industry. On the other hand, order reception volume increased by 23.1% for electric machine in May from April, by 9.8% for automobile and 13.1% for container. Orders decreased by 12.1% for ship in May from April and 26.2% for industrial machine. Orders decreased by 36.5% for domestic building construction.

Orders decreased to 1.776 million tonnes by 5.2% for export in May from a year earlier, which is increasing from the bottom at 950,000 tonnes in November 2008, and increased by 0.8% from April.