Japanese iron and steel production posted its lowest monthly volume for 2009 in February, following its steep decline due to the global downturn that hit Japan's steel industry beginning from November 2008. Subsequently in 2009, Japan's iron and steel output generally followed a steady rising trend throughout the year, interrupted only by the slight decreases registered in April and September.
According to the data released by the Japanese Iron and Steel Federation (JISF), in 2009, Japan's pig iron production reached 66.94 million metric tons, decreasing by 22.3 percent, while its crude steel production totaled 87.53 million metric tons, down 26.3 percent, both compared to the previous year.
In 2009, Japan's steel section production amounted to 4.87 million metric tons, down 33.8 percent, its bar production came to 9.1 million metric tons, down 21.6 percent, its wire rod output was 2.06 million mt, down 44.3 percent, HR wide strip production was 34.35 million mt, down 25.3 percent, and CR wide strip output amounted to 17.12 million mt, down 28.2 percent, all compared to 2008.
Meanwhile, Japanese pig iron production in December 2009 totaled 6.84 million metric tons, increasing by 11.9 percent year on year, and up 2.8 percent compared to November. Meanwhile, the country's crude steel production in December amounted to 8.95 million metric tons, up 19.6 percent year on year, and increasing by 1.1 percent month on month.
