Japan Special Steel Demand to Rise by 1.5% in October-December, METI

Japanese special steel demand will increase by 1.5% to 1.7533 million tonnes in October-December from July-September, by 4.0% from a year ago, announced by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Tuesday. The demand will increase from the previous period for 2 consecutive periods, from a year ago for 19 consecutive periods. Domestic demand will increase for 7 steel items such as bearing steel, alloy steel for machine structural use in October-December from July-September against a background of the production hike of automobile or industrial machine. The export of steel products will increase for 5 items, and increase by 5% for high-tensile steel from July-September because the demand for energy concern is good.METI analyzed the production is required commensurate with actual demand because the inventory of structural steel keeps high level. Japanese automobile output will increase by 0.6% to 2.802 million sets in October-December from July-September, by 2.4% from a year ago for completed car, increase by 1.3% to 1.978 million sets from July-September, by 0.3% from a year ago for knock down sets. Total outputs will increase by 0.9% to 4.78 million sets from July-September, by 1.6% from a year ago, will become at 11.254 million sets and will be high pace at over 10 million sets in fiscal 2006 at ended of March.