METI: Japan Jan-Mar crude steel output to rise 1.9% YoY

Japanese demand for carbon and special steel in crude steel equivalent for both domestic sales and exports will rise 1.9% on year to 24.15 million tonnes over January-March 2022, according to the latest forecast released by the country's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on December 23.

Japan's crude steel output during January-March will be nevertheless 1.4% lower on quarter, and total crude steel output for fiscal 2021 (April 2021-March 2022) will approximate 96.07 million tonnes, up 17.3% on year, Mysteel Global noted from the latest forecast. Meanwhile, demand for finished steel products in the first quarter