Japan Stainless Flat Steel Order Rises by 5% in August

Japanese stainless flat steel demand kept recovering. The order receipt by domestic makers increased by 5.0% to 205,526 tonnes for stainless flat steel in August from July, which reached 200,000 tonnes for the first time in 13 months, according to Japan Stainless Steel Association. The order increased by 9.0% to 104,494 tonnes for domestic market, which reached 100,000 tonnes for the first time in 12 months, which the export order decreased by 0.3% to 82,059 tonnes.

The order receipt increased for nickel series stainless flat steel from distributors, automobile and pipe making in August from July. The order increased for chrome series stainless flat steel from equipment for gas and oil and food processing equipment.

The stainless flat steel demand recovers in recent month after the demand hit bottom in spring but was still low level in mid-2009. The demand is still lower level for some applications in August both from July and a year earlier. The gross stainless flat steel demand is still a middle of the recovery.