In August this year, Japanese crude steel production was up 0.6 percent compared to the previous month, while it increased by 2.2 percent compared to August 2013, totaling 9.35 million mt, according to the data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).
Meanwhile, in August Japan's pig iron production totaled 7.35 million metric tons, increasing by 1.1 percent compared to the previous month and up 2.9 percent year on year.
In the first eight months of the current year, the country's pig iron output stood at 55.75 million metric tons, decreasing by 0.2 percent, while its crude steel production came to 73.88 million metric tons, increasing by one percent, both on year-on-year basis.
Japan's steel product output tonnages in August 2014:
| Product | August 2014 | M-o-m change (%) | Y-o-y change (%) |
| Hot rolled section | 487,300 | -2.7 | -2.9 |
| Bar | 812,200 | -1.6 | 5.2 |
| Wire rod | 153,700 | -14.4 | -2.6 |
| Heavy plate | 899,100 | 9.7 | 6.6 |
| Hot rolled wide strip | 3,863,700 | -0.4 | 0.2 |
| Cold rolled wide strip | 1,683,100 | -1.1 | -2.7 |
| Galvanized sheet | 999,700 | -0.1 | -1.4 |
| Welded pipe | 297,000 | -16,7 | -8.7 |