Japan Raw Steel Output Rises by 3.7% in May

Japanese raw steel output increased by 3.7% to 10.547 million tonnes in May from a year earlier, which represents increases for 24 months in a row, announce by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Thursday. The output was the highest level as May topping 10.172 million tonnes in 2007 and third monthly high after 10.775 million tonnes in March 2008 and 10.66 million tonnes in October 1973. The output in April and May is more than last year when the output was record in fiscal 2007 to March 2008. The converter steel output increased by 5.5% to 7.794 million tonnes in May from a year earlier while the electric furnace steel output decreased by 1.1% to 2.754 million tonnes, which was first drop in 4 months. The carbon steel output increased by 3.7% to 8.225 million tonnes and the special steel output increased by 3.7% to 2.323 million tonnes. The output of hot rolled steel products increased by 1.7% to 9.264 million tonnes in May from a year earlier. The carbon steel products output increased by 1.0% to 7.39 million tonnes when the output increased by 2.9% to 5.16 million tonnes for flat steel while the long products output decreased by 3.3% to 2.16 million tonnes. The hot rolled wide strip output increased by 4.1% to 3.998 million tonnes and the plate output increased by 0.6% to 1.089 million tonnes. The output decreased by 4.5% to 1.046 million tonnes for small bar and by 13.9% to 123,000 tonnes for heavy shapes.