According to the production results announced by the Japanese Iron and Steel Federation (JISF), in May this year Japanese pig iron production declined by 5.5 percent year on year, totaling 6.77 million mt, up by 10.4 percent over April. Meanwhile, the country's crude steel production in May amounted to 9.04 million metric tons, down seven percent year on year, and rising by 7.2 percent month on month after the disastrous earthquake and nuclear crisis that hit the country in March this year.
However, in the first five months of 2011, the country's pig iron output stood at 33.61 million metric tons, down 0.9 percent year on year, and its crude steel production came to 45.18 million metric tons, down 0.1 percent compared to the corresponding period of 2010.
In May, Japan's steel section production amounted to 533,600 metric tons, up 1.2 percent, its bar production came to 839,000 metric tons, up 2.1 percent, its wire rod output was 151,500 mt, down 5.8 percent, heavy plate output reached 1.10 million metric tons, up 6.5 percent, HR wide strip production was 3.45 million mt, up 8.2 percent, CR wide strip output amounted to 1.64 million mt, up 6.7 percent, galvanized sheet production totaled 933,900 metric tons, up 1.9 percent, and welded pipe output was 309,900 metric tons, decreasing by 5.8 percent, all compared to April.