In January this year, Japanese crude steel production increased by 3.5 percent compared to the previous month, while it was up by 2.7 percent year on year, totaling 8.86 million mt, according to the data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF). Total Japanese crude steel production had remained nearly stable in 2012 at 107.2 million mt.
Meanwhile, Japan's pig iron production in January this year totaled 7 million metric tons, increasing by 4.9 percent month on month and up 6.8 percent compared to the same month last year. During last year, the country's pig iron output stood at 81.4 million metric tons, increasing 0.5 percent over 2011.
Japan's steel product output tonnages in January 2013:
Product |
January 2013 (mt) |
Y-o-y change (%) |
M-o-m change (%) |
Hot rolled section |
482,500 |
6.65 |
3.5 |
Bar |
762,300 |
-2.2 |
-4.3 |
Wire rod |
177,000 |
22.7 |
24.6 |
Heavy plate |
901,200 |
8.3 |
-4.5 |
Hot rolled wide strip |
3,901,200 |
10.7 |
10 |
Cold rolled wide strip |
1,729,300 |
11.1 |
0.9 |
Galvanized sheet |
1,033,100 |
10.6 |
1.2 |
Welded pipe |
314,700 |
0.7 |
5.4 |