Japan Common Steel Demand for Construction Decreases in Feb

Japanese common steel products demand for construction usage would decrease by 6% to 1.9 million tonnes in February from a year ago, according to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The demand is forecasted to increase by 1.5% to 460,000 tonnes for shape steel while to decrease by 2.6% to 800,000 tonnes for small bar. Total construction materials demand is expected to decrease by 4.6% to 4.5 million tonnes in February from a year ago. Ready-mixed concrete would decrease by 3.9% to 9.5 million tonnes, asphalt decrease by 9% to 195,000 tonnes and wood bulding materials increase by 2% to 1 million cubic meters. Common steel products demand for construction increased by 30.9% to 18.975 million tonnes in April-October 2006 from the same period of 2005. Shape steel increased by 10.4% to 3.493 million tonnes and small bar increased by 9.3% to 6.409 million tonnes.