The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan released on 4th the totalized steel production plan in the 4th quarter (January - March) of fiscal 2012. According to this, the planned production quantity of crude steel in this quarter is 26,112 thousand tons (hereinafter abbreviated as t/t), up 0.8% from the previous quarter, and down 1.7% from the same period of the previous year. That of steel products is 22,995 t/t, up 3.6% ditto, and down 3.3% ditto. Reduction of inventory of semi-finished products contributes to increase in production of steel products.

Out of the production plans of steel products, those of ordinary steel products in this quarter are 18,485 t/t, up 3.6% from the previous quarter, and down 0.4% from the same period of the previous year. Of these, production of ordinary steel for the domestic market is 11,589 t/t, up 1.2% ditto, and down 4.3% ditto. That for export is 6,897 t/t, up 2.8% ditto, and also up 6.7% ditto. As for the production plan of the electric furnace mills, that of steel H-beams is 884 t/t, up 1.6% from the previous quarter while that of steel small bars is 2,275 t/t, down 0.5% ditto and also down 0.3% from the same period of the previous year. As a result, the total planned production quantity of the electric furnace mills decreases due to slight decrease for the manufacturing sector. There is a possibility of an upward swing in the production plan of this quarter due to revision of the appreciated yen and increase in the domestic rehabilitation demand. As for the production plan of specialty steel, please refer to the separate article.

After the Round-Table Conference of Steel Industry held on that day, Mr. Shinya Higuchi, Chairman (Executive Vice President of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal) said, "It is delight in seeing a result because plus factors are clear. Concern about an downward swing is few", and added as for the production plan, "Each company seems to consider it carefully. It is looking forward to seeing brightness but is in a careful position at present." And he also added on revision of the appreciated yen, "I'm afraid about a trade issue. We must export with seeing the market carefully."

• [Editor:editor]