In March this year, Japanese crude steel production was up 10 percent compared to the previous month, while it decreased by 4.5 percent compared to March 2014, totaling 9.28 million mt, according to the data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).
Meanwhile, in Marchc Japan's pig iron production totaled 7.15 million metric tons, increasing by 12 percent compared to the previous month and falling by 8.9 percent year on year.
In the first three months of the current year, the country's pig iron output stood at 20.54 million metric tons, up 0.1 percent, while its crude steel production came to 26.75 million metric tons, falling three percent, both on year-on-year basis.
Japan's steel product output tonnages in March 2015:
Product | March 2015 | M-o-m change (%) | Y-o-y change (%) |
Hot rolled section | 532,900 | 7.3 | -3.3 |
Bar | 830,600 | 9.8 | -1.42 |
Wire rod | 168,600 | 10.3 | -1.4 |
Heavy plate | 912,900 | 6.2 | -0.6 |
Hot rolled wide strip | 4,066,800 | 18.2 | -0.9 |
Cold rolled wide strip | 1,687,400 | 15.8 | -9 |
Galvanized sheet | 1,028,100 | 17.4 | -8.8 |
Welded pipe | 326,300 | -0.1 | -10.7 |