According to the Japanese Ministry of Trade (METI), Japanese demand for crude steel in the first quarter of 2013 is expected to rise by 0.2 percent from the previous quarter (Q4 2012) to 26.07 million mt, with an expected decline of 1.9 percent compared to the same quarter of 2012.
Total demand for Japanese steel, including exports, is expected to be 23.35 million mt in the first quarter of 2013, up 0.9 percent from the estimated data for the previous quarter, while a decrease in domestic demand and an increase in exports is forecasted. Of the estimated Q1 2013 demand, exports are expected to account for 8.45 million mt, up 5.5 percent year on year and rising by 4.1 percent compared with the estimate for the previous quarter.
Meanwhile, of the total demand, 18.74 million mt is expected to be for ordinary steel, down 2.3 percent year on year and down 0.6 percent from the estimated data for the previous quarter, while 4.61 million mt of demand is expected to be for special steel, down 11.4 percent year on year and up 7.4 percent from the estimated data for Q4 2012.
The ministry announced that demand from domestic manufacturers is expected to increase slightly from the previous quarter, primarily because of a seasonal increase in domestic car sales, while demand from shipbuilding will continue to decrease due to structural factors.