Japanese steelmakers will likely produce 105 million to 106 million metric tons of crude steel in the year to March 2012, slightly lower than last fiscal year, an industry group chief said.

Crude steel output may fall further next fiscal year, Japan Iron and Steel Federation Chairman Eiji Hayashida said today at a press briefing in Tokyo. Hayashida is also the president of JFE Holdings Inc. (5411)’s steelmaking unit.