Japan Raw Steel Output Hits May’s Record

Japanese raw steel output hit record 10.183 million tonnes as May, which was 2.6% higher than a year earlier, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Tuesday. The output was 5th high as monthly output after 10.256 million tonnes in March 2007. The output increased for 12 months in a row on year to year basis. The demand was firm for domestic manufacturers including automobile and shipbuilding and export.

The converter steel output increased by 2.3% to 7.388 million tonnes in May from a year earlier, which was increased for 12 months in a row. The electric furnace steel output increased by 3.2% to 2.794 million tonnes, which increased for the first time in 2 months. The carbon steel output increased by 2.1% to 7.941 million tonnes. The special steel output increased by 4.3% to 2.242 million tonnes, which increased for 17 months in a row.

The output of hot rolled steel products including special steel increased by 4.5% to 9.115 million tonnes in May from a year earlier. The carbon steel products output increased by 4.7% to 7.339 million tonnes when the output increased by 6% to 2.233 million tonnes for long products and by 3.5% to 5.02 million tonnes for flat products. The special steel products output increased by 3.9% to 1.777 million tonnes, which increased for 12 months in a row.