In February this year, Japanese crude steel production was down 10.2 percent compared to the previous month, while it increased by 1.4 percent year on year, totaling 8.44 million mt, according to the data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF).
Meanwhile, in February Japan's pig iron production totaled 6.22 million metric tons, decreasing by 13.9 percent compared to the previous month and down 2.1 percent year on year.
In the first two months of the current year, the country's pig iron output stood at 13.45 million metric tons, rising by 0.5 percent, while its crude steel production came to 17.84 million metric tons, increasing by 3.8 percent, both on year-on-year basis.
Japan's steel product output tonnages in February 2014:
| Product | February 2014 | M-o-m change (%) | Y-o-y change (%) |
| Hot rolled section | 535,900 | 4.0 | 11.0 |
| Bar | 820,300 | 01.Ağu | 0.5 |
| Wire rod | 154,200 | -11.2 | -3.8 |
| Heavy plate | 825,100 | -12.2 | 1.9 |
| Hot rolled wide strip | 3,491,000 | -12.0 | 3.3 |
| Cold rolled wide strip | 1,603,300 | -11.3 | 0.7 |
| Galvanized sheet | 964,200 | -9.9 | 1.7 |
| Welded pipe | 322,000 | -7.3 | -11.6 |