Japanese Problems Mount

摘要

The Japanese steel sector is facing a turbulent period ahead. Domestic consumption is slipping. Export markets are fading. Producer inventories are far too high. Crunch time has arrived. Action is at last being promised. Steel output will fall this year and next.Most of the major blast furnace steelmakers have announced deep cuts in crude steel production in the coming months. The figure for the final quarter is likely to fall to near 24.8 million tonnes, giving a year end figure of just below 103 million tonnes -a reduction of 3.5 percent.