Japan Electric Furnace Steel Output Hits 32-Year Low in 2010

Japanese raw steel output at electric furnaces increased by 24.2% to 23.842 million tonnes in 2010 from 2009, according to Japan Iron and Steel Federation. The output increased to more than 20 million tonnes for the first time in 2 years. However, the output marked the lowest level since 22.356 million tonnes in 1978. The electric furnaces’ output rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 21.8% of Japanese raw steel output in 2010 from 2009.

The carbon steel output at electric furnaces increased by 13.4% to 16.304 million tonnes in 2010 from 2009. The output of concrete reinforcing steel bar and other small bar was 8.366 million tonnes in 2010 as 2009. The electric furnace steel makers’ output increased by 8.1% to 3.183 million tonnes for H-beam and by 13.8% to 1.016 million tonnes for medium and light section. The output was 70-80% level of the output in 2007 before Lehman Shock.

The special steel output at electric furnaces increased by 56.5% to 7.538 million tonnes in 2010 from 2009, which is about 90% of the level in 2007. The output increased due to firm automobile demand.

The raw steel output at electric furnaces increased by 21.4% to 2.052 million tonnes in December 2010 from a year earlier while the output decreased by 1.9% from November. The carbon steel output increased by 22.3% to 1.384 million tonnes in December from a year earlier while the output decreased by 0.5% from November. The special steel output increased by 19.6% to 668,036 tonnes in December from a year earlier while the output decreased by 0.7% from November.