Japan H-Beam Demand to Rise by 5% in F2008

Japanese H-beam demand will increase by around 5% to 4.3 million tonnes in fiscal 2008 ending March 2009 from fiscal 2007, according to Japanese major steel maker. The maker revised the outlook downward from original around 10% increase. The maker now expects severer demand condition for second half of the year under slower economy. The demand will decrease by around 13% to 2 million tonnes in October 2008-March 2009 from April-September period. The demand is around 8% higher than same period of 2007, when the demand dropped sharply due to very slow building activity after new building standard law started in June 2007. The demand for fixed outer dimension H-beam will increase by 7% to around 550,000 tonnes in fiscal 2008 from fiscal 2007. The demand increases to 280,000-300,000 tonnes level in second half of the year from 250,000-260,000 tonnes level in the first half due to relative higher demand for large building.