Japan Major 5 Steels’ Raw Steel Output to Rise in F2008

Japanese major 5 integrated steel makers’ raw steel output is expected to increase to 90.43 million tonnes by 1.1% or about 1 million tonnes in fiscal 2008 at the ended of March 2009 from fiscal 2007, which to exceed highest ever in fiscal 1990 of about 78 million tonnes and to increase by 28 million tonnes compared with the bottom in fiscal 1998. Raw steel in fiscal 2008 is expected to be over 90 million tonnes since fiscal 1974.

The 5 makers will keep full operation under in fiscal 2008 when users are requesting more output of high grade steel for automobile, shipbuilding or construction machinery etc.

Nippon Steel increased crude steel output to 33.11 million tonnes in fiscal 2007. The output hit the record with 9 blast furnaces. The firm keeps the output in same level in fiscal 2008 from last year.

JFE Steel increased crude steel output to 30.52 million tonnes in fiscal 2007. The output hit the record, too. The firm has increased the output from fiscal 2003 of 2.7 million tonnes thanks to the expansion of 5 blast furnaces. The firm will produce crude steel at 30.8 million tonnes in fiscal 2008.

Sumitomo Metal Industries will increase crude steel output to 14 million tonnes by 2.8% in fiscal 2008 from fiscal 2007 due to effect of blast furnace expansion. See attached table.