Japan Electric Furnace Crude Steel Increases by 9.8% in May

Japanese crude steel output by electric furnace decreased to 1.647 million tonnes by 40.2% in May from a year earlier, which decreased for 9 consecutive months due to low demand in the world. The output increased by 9.8%, which exceeded 1.6 million tnnes for the first time in 6 months when electric furnace makers for common and special steel are alleviating the output reduction.

The output by common steel electric furnace decreased to 1.29 million tonnes by 35.8% in May from a year earlier. The output of rebar decreased to 759281 tonnes by 27.5% while increased for 5 consecutive months when makers produced rebar in long holidays in May with concentration. Rebar inventory rate held by makers and dealers increased to 83.9% by 10 percentage points in May from April.

The crude steel by special steel electric furnace makers increased to 356,044 tonnes by 25.3% in May from April while decreased by 52.1% in May from a year earlier. Special steel makers alleviate the output reduction to 30-40% in May from a year earlier. The makers’ output is increasing by over 60% in May from February.