Japan H-Beam Output Rises by 7.7% in October

Japanese H-beam output increased by 7.7% to 400,370 tonnes in October from a year earlier, according to Japan Iron and Steel Federation. The output reached 400,000 tonnes for the first time in 2 years and 5 months after 475,000 tonnes in May 2004. The monthly output increases for 13 months in a row. The building demand keeps firm under aggressive capital expenditure by private sector and redevelopment in metropolitan area. Total H-beam shipment increased by 9.7% to 391,000 tonnes in October from a year earlier. The domestic shipment increased by 10.2% to 386,000 tonnes while the export decreased by 16.1% to 5,352 tonnes. The inventory held by 639 distributors decreased by 5% to 265,000 tonnes at the end of October from September. The output increased by 17.1% to 2.643 million tonnes in April-October from same period of 2005. The output is higher pace than 4.012 million tonnes in fiscal 2005 ending March 2006.