Japan 5 major Steel Makers’ Crude Steel Increases by 25.5% in 2010

Japanese 5 integrated steel makers’ crude steel output increased by 25.5% to 85.5 million tones in 2010 from 2009, which recovered to at 95% from high level before Lehman’s fall when the demand for overseas market maintained firm situation and domestic demand continued to recover for mainly manufacturing industry. Nippon Steel’s output increased by 31.5% and recovered peak level before Lehman’s fall. JFE Steel, Sumitomo Metal Industries, Kobe Steel and Nisshin Steel increased their output by over 20% in 2010 from 2009.

Nippon Steel’ output was 32.58 million tones in 2010 and recovered same level of 2008 at 32.92 million tones when the output of Kimitsu iron works recovered at over 10 million tones, and the output of Oita iron works and Nagoya iron works recovered at same level of 2008.

JFE Steel increased the output by 20.8% to 28.43 million tones in 2010, which recovered to 95.6% of 2008 at 29.73 million tonnes. The firm was forced in reduction of output by trouble of blast furnace, but recovered to production pace at 30 million tones per year which the firm remained abeyance of one blast furnace.

Sumitomo Metals increased the output by 21.2% to 13.1 million tones in 2010 from 2009, which recovered the output to 94.4% of 2008 at 13.88 million tones despite of trouble of blast furnace in the second half of 2010.

Kobe Steel increased the output by 28% to 7.57 million tones in 2010 from 2009, which recovered at 94% of 2008 at 8.05 million tones despite of trouble of blast furnace. Nisshin Steel increased the output by 24.8% to 3.83 million tones and the output decreased by 5.2% in 2010 from 2008.

5 makers’ output decreased by 1.5% to 7.11 million tones on December 2010 from a year earlier, which increased by 3.3% from November 2010, while decreased the output to 229,258 tonnes per day from 229,333 tonnes in December from November.

5 makers’ pig iron output increased by 23% to 82.34 million tones in 2010 from 2009, while increased by 0.5% to 6.881 million tones on December 2010 from a year earlier and by 2.5% on December from November. The output decreased to 221,968 tonnes per day from 223,733 tonnes on December from November.