Japan's 2025 crude steel output plunges to 57-year low

A lethargic domestic economy, a difficult steel-trade environment, and structural changes among steel buyers are being blamed for the 4% decline in Japan's crude steel output last year to 80.67 million tonnes.

Preliminary data released Thursday by the Japan Iron & Steel Federation (JISF) show that last year's was the worst calendar-year performance since 1968 -- when the industry was in frantic expansion mode, not today's gradual decline -- when production reached 66.89 million tonnes. A year later in 1969, output