Japan H-Beam Demand Decreases by 15% in Apr-Jun

Japanese H-beam demand is expected to decrease to 850,000 tonnes by around 15% in April-June from same period of last year except for high web H-beam, according to Japanese integrated steel maker source. The demand is expected to increase from January-March, but to keep low level year round in fiscal 2009 at ended March 2010. There is possible that the demand drops to 3.3 million tones in fiscal 2009 since fiscal 2002 when the demand was lowest.

Domestic demand for H-beam decreased to 700,000 tonnes by around 18% in January-March 2009 from October-December 2008. The demand decreases by 10% in January-March from October-December every year, but the demand decreases largely in this year. The demand reduced to 850,000 tonnes in October-December 2008 from July-September due to economic recession after the last half of fiscal 2009.

Domestic demand is expected to 3.6 million tones by 10% in fiscal 2008 while to 3.4 million tones in fiscal 2009. An integrated steel maker source said the demand is expected to decrease to 850,000 tonnes by 19% in July-September 2009 from April-June and to more decrease due to unclear economic situation in the future.

Domestic H-beam demand reduced to 3.3 million tones in fiscal 2002 from 6.9 million tones in fiscal 1990, while recovered to 4.1 million tones in fiscal 2006.

Domestic demand of high web H-beam increased to 500,000 tonnes in fiscal 2007, which increased to 260,000-270,000 tonnes in first half of fiscal 2008 while decreased to 210,000 tonnes in the last half of fiscal 2008 due to downturn in economy.

High web H-beam demand is expected to decrease to around 350,000 tonnes by 26% in fiscal 2009 from last year.