Japanese crude steel production increased amid a recovery in economic activities and demand compared to the prior year. In 2020, mills were compelled to stay shut for almost a quarter as the COVID-19 impacted the country.
In the April-June period, production was up by 34.4pc to 24.35mn mt from the prior-year period, according to Japan Steel and Iron Association. HR steel, which was the highest contributor to the total crude steel production was up by 30.9pc to 21.09mn mt in the period.
In H1, crude steel production rose 13.8pc to 48.57mn mt from H1 2020.
Crude steel production declined by 3.7pc from a month ago to 8.11mn mt in June as COVID-19 cases increased. However, the output was still up by 44.4pc as compared to June last year. Average crude steel production per day in June was 270,000mt, down 0.5pc from 272,000mt in May.
Pig iron production in June fell by 4.9pc to 5.82mn mt from May but increased by 39.1pc from the prior-year period. Pig iron production was at 17.62mn mt in the April-June period, an increase of 30.6pc from the previous year. In H1, pig iron production was at 35.22mn mt, up by 10.4pc from the prior year.
In June, blast furnaces in the country produced 6mn mt steel, down by 5.2pc from May but up by 47.4pc from June 2020.
Production of steel through electric-arc furnaces rose by 0.8pc to 2.10mn mt from last month and by 36.4pc from June 2020, said JISF.
The production of ordinary steel in June declined by 2.9pc to 6.27mn mt from May but increased by 36.3pc from the prior year. The production of special steel fell by 6.4pc to 1.83mn mt from a month ago but increased by 81pc from the prior-year period.
Production of hot-rolled steel, including ordinary and special steel was 7.11mn mt, up 0.2pc from the preceding month and 40.8pc from June 2020. In H1, the production of HR steel was 41.89mn mt, up 12.8pc from the prior-year period. Out of the total production of HR coil, ordinary steel was 78pc and special steel 22pc.