Japan Rebar Makers Seek Better Export Opportunity

Japanese concrete reinforcing steel bar makers try to increase the export to take chance in the booming market. The makers try to get British standard, Russian standard (GOST) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to take the opportunity for export to East Asia, Middle East and Russia. They could face fiercer international competition along with higher cost for the facility adjustment. Oil money supports construction boom in United Arab Emirates. Rebar consumption in Dubai represents around 70% of the volume in UAE. Turkey is the main supplier to meet the demand shipping more than 3 million tonnes for UAE in 2007. Japanese rebar makers try to get British standard to ship for Middle East countries.Rebar makers usually make rebar with cooling in the finishing process but Japanese Industrial Standard doesn’t accept the method. Another process is to add vanadium despite of the higher cost. Some Japanese makers already got British standard for Hong Kong. Price competition is severer for British standard market, in which price is around 30,000 yen per tonne lower than Japanese price level.Russia is expected to growing demand for rebar when government and private sector plan several trillion yen of investment toward 2012 when the country holds summit meeting for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. Japanese rebar makers try to ship for Russia, which requires higher specification.