In July this year, Japanese crude steel production was up 1.7 percent compared to the previous month, while it remained stable compared to July 2013, totaling 9.30 million mt, according to the data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).
Meanwhile, in July Japan's pig iron production totaled 7.22 million metric tons, increasing by 5.4 percent compared to the previous month and down 0.6 percent year on year.
In the first seven months of the current year, the country's pig iron output stood at 48.4 million metric tons, decreasing by 0.7 percent, while its crude steel production came to 64.53 million metric tons, increasing by 0.8 percent, both on year-on-year basis.
Japan's steel product output tonnages in July 2014:
| Product | July 2014 | M-o-m change (%) | Y-o-y change (%) |
| Hot rolled section | 501,200 | -3.9 | -2.19 |
| Bar | 825,900 | -4.9 | 1.96 |
| Wire rod | 175,500 | 15.8 | 1.1 |
| Heavy plate | 818,200 | -9.0 | -6.5 |
| Hot rolled wide strip | 3,876,000 | 5.2 | 3.8 |
| Cold rolled wide strip | 1,701,900 | 3.6 | - |
| Galvanized sheet | 1,002,700 | 1.2 | 0.1 |
| Welded pipe | 343,800 | -1.5 | 4.1 |