According to the Japanese Ministry of Trade (METI), Japan’s crude steel output is forecast to decrease 2.6 percent year on year to 24.31 million mt in the January-March quarter next year. For the full financial year to end on March 31, 2020, crude steel output is forecast to be 99.06 million mt, remaining below 100 million mt.
Domestic demand for finished steel is forecast to fall by 5.8 percent to 14.96 million mt, while exports are expected to increase by 5.8 percent to 6.7 million mt, both year on year. Additionally, demand for ordinary steel from the construction sector is forecast to increase by 0.3 percent to 5.16 million mt compared to the same quarter of the previous year. From the machinery sector, demand is anticipated to decline 13.3 percent year on year to 1.08 million mt.