On October 20, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) released the latest data regarding crude steel production in Japan. Accordingly, in the first half of the fiscal year 2011-12 (April-September) Japan's crude steel production amounted to 53.31 million metric tons, decreasing by 3.8 percent year on year.
The JISF stated that the main factor responsible for the output reduction was weakened market demand resulting from the devastating earthquake and tsunami which hit the country on March 11 this year.