Japan 5 Integrated Steels’ Crude Steel Recovers 6.6MT in August

Crude steel output by Japanese 5 integrated steel makers totaled 6.59 million tonnes in August, which increased by 9.8% from July and represented month-to-month increase for 4 straight months. The makers’ output recovered to 85% level compared with the recent peak of a year earlier. Export of steel products is active while domestic demand for steel is recovering from manufacturing industry such as automobiles.

Nippon Steel’s crude steel output increased by 17.7% to 2.48 million tonnes in August from July. The output expanded by 73.4% to 720,000 tonnes at Oita works where operation of no.1 blast furnace resumed. Crude steel production also recovered at Nagoya works and Yawata works.

JFE Steel’s output increased by 2.9% to 2.3 million tonnes. Sumitomo Metal Industries’ output was 960,000 tonnes, up by 10.2%. Kobe Steel’s output increased by 9.8% to 570,000 tonnes while Nisshin Steel’s output increased by 3.0% to 270,000 tonnes.

As to pig iron production, the 5 steels’ total output increased by 9.7% to 6.24 million tonnes in August from July. The output represented month-to-month increase for 4 months in a row. Nippon Steel’s output increased by 18.0% to 2.29 million tonnes while JFE Steel’s output increased by 3.3% to 2.18 million tonnes. Sumitomo Metals’ output increased by 9.1% to 950,000 tonnes, Kobe Steel’s output increased by 8% to 590,000 tonnes and Nisshin Steel’s output increased by 4.9% to 240,000 tonnes.