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Vehicle production among Japan’s eight major automakers over January-June rose 30% on year to about 12.2 million units from all their assembly plants in and out of Japan, Mysteel Global calculated based on each maker’s production data released on July 29, largely due to the low base a year ago, as it was still 13% lower than two years ago.
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Japan’s electric-arc-furnace (EAF) steel producers have been receiving active inquiries for billet from Chinese buyers and bid prices are trending upwards, according to sources in Tokyo and Osaka on July 28. But actual billet exports are unlikely to increase due to limited availability, they said.
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China’s shipbuilders saw their profits slump by a huge 40% on year to reach Yuan 1.02 billion ($157.5 million) over January-May, despite the recovery of the global shipping market, according to a release from the China Association of National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) on July 26. High production costs were blamed.
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BHP, a leading ferrous and nonferrous mining company in the world, has signed a long-term nickel supply deal with the world’s largest electric car manufacturer Tesla for the latter’s battery production, BHP shared on July 22.
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Over January-June, China’s production of all the four mainstream white goods still grew on year though at a slower pace of 5.6-33.5% against the 10.2-37.3% on-year growths for the first five months of 2021, as their June output fell on month, Mysteel Global noted from the latest data released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on July 19.
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Chinese shipbuilders concluded new vessel orders totalling 38.2 million dead weight tons (dwt) during the first half of 2021, higher by a huge 206.8% on year, according to the latest release from China Association of National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) on July 13. The growth was more pronounced than the 182.6% on-year rise for the first five months, the data show.
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The likelihood that the Tokyo Olympic Games will be held as planned later this month, rather than cancelled despite rising coronavirus cases, is forcing Japanese steel industry insiders doing business in and around the capital to brace for delays to deliveries and other disruptions. The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled for July 23-August 8 and the Paralympic Games during August 24-September 5, Mysteel Global notes.
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The four largest property developers in China all posted strong growth in sales value and volume in the first half of this year, according to results posted by their listed companies over July 1-6. Market watchers suggested the on-year rises reflected the low base of 2020 and the firms’ accelerated pace in promoting sales.
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In June, China’s sales of excavators and other heavy machinery including at home and abroad continued with the on-year decline for the second month, down 6.2% on year or 15.3% lower on month to 23,100 units, Mysteel Global understood from the release by the China Construction Machinery Association (CCMA) on July 7, as domestic sales continued to ebb.
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China’s heavy-duty truck sales volume may post the second consecutive month of an on-year decline for June, or down of 10% from a year ago to 153,000 units, as demand had been weakening and stocks had been building up, according to the release by the Beijing-headquartered Commercial Vehicle World (CVWorld) on June 30.
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Japan’s Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) for its manufacturing industry for June declined by 0.6 basis points on month to 52.4, but the result remained above the threshold of 50 connoting expansion, according to data released on July 1 by index compiler au Jibun Bank Corporation. Though growth has slowed, the improvement in Japan’s manufacturing health has now stayed positive for five consecutive months, it noted.
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In June, China’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for its steel industry scored 45.1, or having reversed down by 1 basis point on month, and domestic steel demand eased, while steel production was still growing, leading to higher supply, the official index compiler - CFLP Steel Logistics Professional Committee (CSLPC), shared its analysis in the release on June 30.
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Japan’s largest automaker, Toyota Motor, has informed its auto components suppliers that it will keep domestic vehicle production at above 13,500 units/day during July-September, Mysteel Global has learned.
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China’s shipbuilders received new vessel orders equivalent to 32.7 million dead weight tons (dwt) over January-May, skyrocketing by 182.6% on year, or almost the same as the 182.1% on-year rise for the first four months, according to the latest data released by the China Association of National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) on June 23. However, though the recovering international shipping market helped, the sensational increase was mainly due to the low base number in the corresponding period of last year, Mysteel Global notes.
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Japan’s crude steel output for all including carbon and special steel for May had been the highest month since June 2019, up 42.2% on year to about 8.42 million tonnes, or the third consecutive month with an on-year gain, Mysteel Global noted from the data released by the Japan Iron & Steel Federation (JISF) on June 22.
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China’s excavator production totalled 235,183 units over January-May, or up 37.1% on year, lower than the 53% on-year growth for January-April, mainly as the output for May had been down on year for the second month, though in general, demand has been staying firm, Mysteel Global noted from the data released by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on June 22.
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Over January-May, China’s production of all the four traditional white goods grew two digits on year by 10.2-37.3%, though the pace slowed from 14.2-44.8% for the first four months of 2021 due to lower on-month production in May, Mysteel Global noted from latest data released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on June 22.
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For May, Japan’s exports of finished steel in all grades and forms rose by 10.9% on year to about 2.75 million tonnes, or the first month with an on-year gain after 12 consecutive months of drops, according to the preliminary data released by Japan’s Ministry of Finance on June 16.
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In May, China’s sales of excavators and other heavy machineries in the domestic market and overseas fell 14.3% on year or slumped 41.6% on month to 27,220 units, according to the latest data released by the China Construction Machinery Association (CCMA) on June 9, which was partly seasonal and mainly due to lower sales domestically.
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Over May 1-20, China’s 11 major automakers produced 983,000 vehicles, according to new data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), representing an on-year fall of 10.7% which it blamed on the shortage of auto semiconductors and on robust input materials prices. The carmakers report their output statistics to CAAM every ten days which the association summarizes and publishes, Mysteel Global notes.
