Japan Raw Steel Output Hits January Record

Japanese raw steel output increased by 1.8% to 10.25 million tonnes in January from a year earlier, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation n Monday. The output increased for 20 months in a row, was more than 10 million tonnes for 4 months in a row and was record as January. The output for the year to March 2008 could exceed record 120.02 million tonnes in fiscal 1973. The converter steel output increased by 2.9% to 7.861 million tonnes in January from a year earlier while the electric furnace steel output decreased by 1.4% to 2.389 million tonnes. The carbon steel output increased by 1.9% to 7.977 million tonnes and the special steel output increased by 1.8% to 2.273 million tonnes. The hot rolled steel output increased by 0.9% to 9.133 million tonnes in January from a year earlier. The carbon steel hot rolled steel output increased by 0.6% to 7.264 million tonnes and the special steel output increased by 2.1% to 1.868 million tonnes. Japanese major 5 steels’ raw steel output increased by 2.7% to 7.814 million tonnes in January from a year earlier. Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, Sumitomo Metal Industries and Nisshin Steel increased the output under strong demand for high valued steel.