The slow and steady rising trend in Japan's steel pipe and tube production, which started in June this year, continued in November with a month-on-month increase of 3.29 percent.
According to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) data, in October 2009 Japan's steel pipe and tube output totaled 332,280 metric tons, increasing by 3.29 percent over September, but down 32.18 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, total Japanese shipments of steel pipes and tubes in October this year amounted to 336,942 metric tons, falling by a slight margin of 0.53 percent month on month, and down 26.08 percent over October 2008. During the month in question, 83.38 percent of shipments were made to the domestic market, while the remaining 16.62 percent were made to the export markets.
In October, Japan's steel pipe and tube inventories fell 1.14 percent over the previous month, reaching 402,645 metric tons, and were down 28.45 percent year on year. 82.22 percent of inventories were held by steel manufacturers, while 17.78 percent were held by steel traders.
The average domestic price for steel pipe in Japan in October was Yen 138,000/mt, remaining unchanged from September levels, but down 6.76 percent or Yen 10,000/mt compared to October 2008.
