Japanese Blast Furnace Crude Steel Decreases to 41.677 M/T by 0.4% for Jan-Jun

Japanese 5 integrated steel manufactures’ crude steel output decreased by 0.4% to 41.677 million tonnes for January-June from a year ago, which accounted for 73.1% of all Japanese crude steel to decrease by 0.6 points.

The demand kept high level for domestic and overseas mainly for high grade products. However, Japanese steel sheet makers continued cautious marketing approach including export reduction earlier the year and output reduction to decrease domestic steel sheet inventory, Japanese steel sheet production decreased over the previous year.

The crude steel increased by 0.2% for Nippon Steel, by 1.1% for JFE Steel while the output was flat for Sumitomo Metal Industries. The output decreased by 2.9% for Kobe Steel and by 11.2% for Nisshin Steel. Nisshin Steel’s crude steel decreased due to production trouble for the blast furnace in Kure Iron Works from the ended of 2005. Kure Iron Works recovered after March 2006.

5 integrated steel manufactures crude steel increased by 1.4% to 7.026 million tonnes in June from a year ago. See to attached file.