Japanese crude steel output declined by 1.3pc to 8.007mn mt in July from the prior month but increased for a fifth consecutive month from the prior-year period. Output increased by 32.5pc from July 2020, according to a report by Japan Iron and Steel Federation.
Pig iron production rose by 1.4pc from the prior month to 5.902mn mt in July. The same was higher by 34.9pc from July last year.
Furnace-wise Production
With regards to furnace-wise production, blast furnace route steel output increased by 0.8pc to 6.05mn mt from the previous month and increased by 37.1pc from the prior year.
Electric furnace route steel output decreased 7.1pc from June to 1.957mn mt in July. The same was higher by 20.1pc from the same month of the prior year.
Product-wise Production
With regards to product, the production of ordinary steel rose to 6.121mn mt, up by 2.4pc from June and 25.6pc from the prior year. Special steel production grew to 1.886mn mt, up 2.6pc from June and 61pc from July last year, and ordinary carbon steel ingot was at 6,109.2mn mt and special steel ingot at 1,872.1mn mt in July.
HRC production (total including ordinary carbon steel and special steel) increased by 0.3pc to 7.159mn mt in July from the previous month. On stable recovery in automakers demand, HRC production in Japan increased for the fifth consecutive month in July compared to the same month of the previous year. Production increased by 33.7pc in July, from the prior-year period.
Ordinary steel (carbon) contributed 78pc of total HR production, at 5.558mn mt in July, an increase of 24.5pc from July 2020.
Production of special HR steel rose by 1.8pc from June to 1.601mn mt, up 80pc from the same month the prior year. Special HR steel production was higher for the seventh consecutive month in July as compared to that in 2020.