Japan's steel output up slightly in March

Japan's crude steel production rose 0.8 percent year on year to 9.66 million metric tons in March, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation said. In addition, crude steel output indicated an 8.9 percent rise compared to the previous month. Outputs from converters rose 0.2 percent to 7.2 million metric tons during the same period while output from electric furnaces rose 2.4 percent to 2.5 million metric tons. Production of ordinary steel almost remained unchanged at 7.5 million metric tons, while specialty steel output rose 3.7 percent to 2.2 million metric tons.