In October, Japanese crude steel production increased compared to the previous month, after having started in the month of January with a peak level for 2011.
According to the data released by the Japanese Iron and Steel Federation (JISF), Japanese crude steel production in October amounted to 9.5 million metric tons, down 0.3 percent year on year and rising by 6.9 percent month on month. Meanwhile, the country's pig iron production in October this year totaled 7.1 million metric tons, decreasing by 0.5 percent year on year and but up 6.7 percent compared to September.
In the January-October period of 2011, the country's pig iron output stood at 68.07 million metric tons and its crude steel production came to 90.5 million metric tons, with decreases of 0.9 percent and one percent both compared to the corresponding period of 2010.
In October, Japan's steel section production amounted to 457,900 metric tons, up eight percent year on year and up 13 percent month on month, its bar production came to 887,400 metric tons, up seven percent year on year and up 13 percent month on month, its wire rod output was 153,200 mt, up 16 percent year on year and up 12 percent month on month, heavy plate output totaled 1.03 million metric tons, down four percent year on year and up one percent month on month, HR wide strip production was 3.6 million mt, down four percent year on year and remaining stable compared to the previous month, CR wide strip output amounted to 1.75 million mt, down eight percent year on year and down two percent month on month, galvanized sheet production totaled 1.07 million metric tons, down five percent year on year and remaining stable compared to the previous month, and welded pipe output was 306,900 metric tons, decreasing by 0.1 percent year on year and down three percent compared to September this year.