Japan Raw Steel Output Rises by 8.5% in August

Japanese raw steel output increased by 8.5% to 8.311 million tonnes in August from July, which represented increases for 4 months in a row, announced by Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Friday. The production reached 8 million tonnes for the first time since November 2008 when domestic integrated steel makers increase the output to meet higher demand for domestic automakers and manufacturers and export. The production was 18.3% lower than a year earlier, which was decreased for 11 months in a row.

The converter steel output increased by 9.8% to 6.604 million tonnes in August from July, which increased for 4 months in a row. The electric furnace steel output increased by 3.8% to 1.707 million tonnes, which increased for the first time in 2 months. The output was 14.6% lower for converter steel and 29.9% lower for electric furnace steel compared with a year earlier level. The electric furnace steel output is relative lower due to slow demand for construction.

The carbon steel output increased by 8.5% to 6.812 million tonnes in August from July, which increased for 4 months in a row. The special steel output increased by 8.4% to 1.499 million tonnes, which increased for 6 months in a row. The output was 14.5% for carbon steel and 32.0% lower for special steel from a year earlier level.

The output of hot rolled steel products increased by 6.8% to 7.296 million tonnes in August from July, which increased for 4 months in a row. The output increased by 6.9% to 6.07 million tonnes for carbon steel products and by 6.3% to 1.226 million tonnes for special steel products, which increased for 4 months and 6 months in a row respectively. The production increased by 8.1% to 1.534 million tonnes for carbon steel long products and by 6.7% to 4.491 million tonnes for carbon steel flat products.