Japan Raw Steel Output Increases by 3.7% in August

Japanese raw steel output increased by 3.7% to 9.966 million tonnes in August from a year earlier, which is increases for 15 months in a row, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Wednesday. The output was second high as August after 10.01 million tonnes in 1974. The converter steel output increased by 5.0% to 7.694 million tonnes in August from a year earlier, and increased for 15 consecutive months. The electric furnace steel output decreased by 0.5% to 2.271 million tonnes, and decreased for 2 consecutive months. The carbon steel output increased by 4.3% to 7.865 million tonnes in August from a year earlier, which increased for 15 months in a row. The special steel output increased by 1.4% to 2.1 million tonnes, which increased for 20 months in a row. The hot rolled steel products o the carbon steel products output increased by 3.8% to 7.201 million tonnes, which increased for 15 consecutive months. The flat steel output increased by 4.7% to 5.19 million tonnes and carbon steel long products output increased by 0.3% to 1.927 million tonnes. The carbon steel wide strip output, which is the largest item, increased by 5.3% to 4.007 million tonnes in August from a year earlier, which increased for 15 months in a row. The carbon steel plate output increased by 5.5% to 1.108 million tonnes, which increased by 10 months in a row. The small bar output increased by 0.4% to 942,000 tonnes and H-beam output increased by 1.1% to 380,000 tonnes, both of which increased for 23 months in a row. The special steel hot rolled products output decreased by 1.6% to 1.676 million tonnes in July from a year earlier, which decreased in 15 months for the first time. Japanese 5 integrated steel increased the raw steel output by 4.6% to 7.636 million tonnes in August from the same month of last year. Each maker kept high production due to good steel demand for mainly high grade products. Nippon Steel increased the output by 0.1% to 2.794 million tonnes in August from a year ago due to increased production of Kimitsu and Oita works. JFE Steel increased the output by 9.3% to 2.642 million tonnes due to largely increased output of West Japan iron works. Sumitomo Metal Industries increased the output by 2.9% to 1.157 million tonnes. Kobe Steel increased the output by 9.5% to 700,000 tonnes. Nisshin Steel increased the output by 4.9% to 340,000 tonnes.