In May this year, Japanese crude steel production was up 2.2 percent compared to the previous month and remained almost stable compared to May last year, totaling 8.95 million mt, according to the data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).
Meanwhile, in May of the current year Japan's pig iron production totaled 6.69 million metric tons, rising by 2.9 percent compared to the previous month and falling 2.1 percent year on year.
In the January-May period of this year, the country's pig iron output stood at 32.92 million metric tons, down 1.5 percent, while its crude steel production came to 43.94 million metric tons, rising 1.5 percent, both on year-on-year basis.
| Product | May 2017 (mt) | M-o-m change (%) | Y-o-y change (%) |
| Hot rolled section | 495,400 | 4.9 | -0.3 |
| Bar | 796,200 | 0.2 | -1.8 |
| Wire rod | 146,600 | -3.4 | -6.6 |
| Heavy plate | 751,600 | 4.1 | -6.0 |
| Hot rolled wide strip | 3,675,800 | 2.5 | -1.7 |
| Cold rolled wide strip | 1,560,900 | 0.2 | 2.0 |
| Galvanized sheet | 917,200 | 1.0 | 6.6 |
| Welded pipe | 315,600 | -3.4 | 9.5 |