According to the Steel Demand Prospect for the Fourth Quarter of FY 2011-12 (January-March 2012) published by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, total Japanese steel demand in January-March 2012 is estimated at 23.95 million mt, with a 0.2 percent increase compared to the last quarter of 2011.
The ministry estimates crude steel demand for the period in question will decrease 2.3 percent compared to the previous quarter to 26 million mt because of the estimated increase in steel imports and steel inventory adjustment. On the basis of the ministry data, crude steel production in FY 2011-12 (April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012) is anticipated to total 105.92 million mt, with a 4.4 percent decrease year on year.
On the other hand, the steel demand of the Japanese construction sector in the first quarter of 2012 is predicted to decrease by the ministry due to seasonal factors, while steel demand for the manufacturing sector and the steel exports of the country is expected to increase in the quarter in question, all compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.