Japan Integrated Steels’ Crude Steel Output Downs to 4.24MT in Apr

Crude steel production by Japanese 5 integrated steel makers totaled 4.243 million tonnes in April, down by 43.2% from year earlier and by 4.7% from a month ago. The production per day decreased to 141,000 tonnes in April from 144,000 tonnes in March. The 5 makers continued wide-range output reductions along weak demand caused by global economy deterioration.

Nippon Steel’s crude steel production was 1.453 million tonnes in April, down by 48.3% from a year earlier and by 2.5% from a month ago. JFE Steel’s output was 1.463 million tonnes, down by 40.3% year-to-year and by 3.8% month-to-month.

Sumitomo Metal Industries’ output decreased by 36.4% year-to-year and by 10.3% month-to-month. Kobe Steel’s production represented 46.4% year-to-year decrease and 5.4% month-to-month decline. Nisshin Steel’s output also decreased by 38.8% year-to-year and by 4.5% month-to-month.

Pig iron production by the 5 integrated steels totaled 4.384 million tonnes in April, down by 39% from a year earlier and by 6.4% from a month ago. The production per day decreased to 146,000 tonnes in April from 151,000 tonnes in March. Pig iron output continued to exceed crude steel production.