Japan Pig Iron Production Share Positions Keep Unchanged in F2010

Japanese pig iron production increased by 14.3% to 82.92 million tonnes in fiscal 2010 ended in March 2011 compared with the previous financial year. Japanese 5 integrated steel makers recovered the output in fiscal 2010 after Lehman’s fall. Their share positions didn’t change in fiscal 2010 from fiscal 2009. In fiscal 2010, production share upped by 2.2 points to 38.8% for Nippon Steel, by 0.2 points to 4.2% for Nisshin Steel, while downed by 1.1 points to 32.6% for JFE Steel, by 0.9 points to 15.1% for Sumitomo Metal Industries and by 0.2 points to 9.45 for Kobe Steel.

The demand rebounded for export mainly to Asia and for domestic manufacturing industry. The 5 makers’ output totaled above 80 million tonnes for the first time in 3 years and recovered to 90-95% of the peak level before Lehman’s fall. The output increased by 21.1% to 32.18 million tonnes at Nippon Steel, by 10.6% to 20.05 million tonnes at JFE Steel, by 7.5% to 12.49 million tonnes at Sumitomo Metals, by 11.4% to 7.75 million tonnes at Kobe Steel and by 18.8% to 3.45 million tonnes at Nisshin Steel.

By iron works, the output increased by 31% to 9.99 million tonnes at Kimitsu iron works of Nippon Steel and by 29% to 8.92 million tonnes at Oita iron works of Nippon Steel while decreased by 0.4% to 6.81 million tonnes at Kashima iron works of Sumitomo Metals. The 5 makers have expanded inner volume of blast furnaces at the timing of relining and increased production capacities.