Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry disclosed that the country's demand for rolled steel products will decrease 220,000 metric tons or 0.9 percent year on year to around 25.65 million metric tons in the second quarter of 2006.
The demand will be also 400,000 metric tons or 1.5 percent lower than the first quarter of 2006.
The shipment of crude steel output is expected to be around 27.75 million metric tons in the second quarter. This indicates a 1 percent fall compared to the first quarter of 2006 and a 4.2 percent decrease compared to the second quarter of 2005.