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Japan Jan-March crude steel output forecast to fall 2.4% Y/Y - METI

Japan's unrefined steel output is expected to fall 2.4% in the first 3 months of 2025 due to sluggish need from the manufacturing and building and construction sectors, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) stated on Thursday.

The forecast would bring the world's third-largest steel manufacturer's annual output for the ending March 31 to 83.72 million metric heaps, down 3.6% from a year previously. It marks the lowest output given that fiscal 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic deteriorated demand

Steel need will likely remain sluggish due to weak need. from producers consisting of car manufacturers and from the building and construction sector, Manabu Nabeshima, director of METI's metal markets division, told a press conference.

The ministry approximated unrefined steel output to be 20.93 million metric loads in January-March, below 21.45 million lots a year earlier. It would log a 0.1% drop from the present quarter.

Need for steel items, including those for exports, is projection to fall 0.5% to 19.09 million loads in January-March compared with a year previously, the ministry stated, citing an industry study.

Exports are anticipated to fall 0.4%, the ministry stated.

The Japan Iron and Steel Federation forecasted on Wednesday that the country's crude steel output in fiscal 2025 will see a. minor boost compared to the existing year.

Nevertheless, the federation's chairman, Tadashi Imai urged the. government to take swift trade steps against rising steel. imports from China to protect domestic supply chains.

When inquired about prospective trade actions, Nabeshima said,. We can't discuss particular actions, however noted that China's. steel exports have risen considerably, causing a boost. in Japan's imports.

We aim to respond without delay while adhering to WTO trade. rules, he included.

Japanese steelmakers have consistently voiced issues over. China's growing steel exports.

Chinese steelmakers, already exporting at near-decade high. volumes, are set to keep pressing out shipments in 2025 to manage. overcapacity and soft domestic need, market experts and. analysts say, threatening to get worse installing trade frictions.

(source: Reuters)