Japan Raw Steel Output Drops by 0.3% in February

Japan Iron and Steel Federation announced on Wednesday Japanese raw steel output decreased by 0.3% to 8.608 million tonnes in February from January, which decreased for the first time in 2 months. The output decreased due to shorter operation days. The daily output increased by 6.6% to 296,800 tonnes, which increased for 2 months in a row. The total output in 11 months from April 2011 decreased by 4.5% to 97.14 million tonnes from same period of previous earlier. With the pace in February, the output in fiscal 2011 ending in March would decrease by 4% to 106.34 million tonnes from fiscal 2010.

The converter steel output decreased by 2.5% to 6.47 million tonnes in February from January, which decreased for 2 months in a row. The electric furnace steel output increased by 7.2% to 2.139 million tonnes, which increased for the first time in 4 months. The carbon steel output decreased by 0.7% to 6.524 million tonnes, which decreased for the first time in 2 months. The special steel output increased by 1.2% to 2.084 million tonnes, which increased for 2 months in a row.

The output of hot rolled steel products decreased by 0.9% to 7.757 million tonnes in February from January, which decreased for the first time in 2 months. The output decreased by 0.6% to 6.08 million tonnes for carbon steel and by 1.9% to 1.677 million tonnes for special steel. The output decreased for the first time in 2 months for both categories.

The carbon steel output increased by 6.9% to 1.59 million tonnes for long products in February from January. The flat rolled steel output decreased by 3.1% to 4.423 million tonnes. The output decreased by 3.3% to 3.429 million tonnes for hot rolled wide strip and by 1.6% to 929,000 tonnes for plate. The output increased by 8.1% to 767,000 tonnes for small bar by 4.4% to 296,000 tonnes for H-beam.