According to the Japanese Ministry of Trade (METI), Japanese demand for crude steel in the third quarter of the current year is expected to total 27.1 million mt, increasing by 0.1 percent from the estimated output for the second quarter, with an expected increase of 0.9 percent compared to the third quarter of 2013.
Total demand for Japanese steel, including exports, is expected to reach 24.25 million mt in the third quarter this year, up 1.8 percent from the estimated data for the previous quarter, and down 2.9 percent compared to the third quarter of 2013. Of the estimated third quarter demand, exports are expected to account for 8.21 million mt, up 1.2 percent from the estimated data for the second quarter and down 4.2 percent compared to the third quarter of 2013.
Meanwhile, of the total demand in the third quarter this year, 19.17 million mt is expected to be for ordinary steel, decreasing by 3.4 percent year on year and up 2.2 percent from the estimated data for the previous quarter, while 5.08 million mt of demand is expected to be for special steel, down 0.9 percent year on year and decreasing by 0.3 percent from the estimated data for the second quarter this year.