Japan's First-Half Crude Steel Output Drops Slightly to 40.4 Million Tonnes

Published: Jul 28, 2026 11:03

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Preliminary data from the Japan Iron & Steel Federation (JISF) indicated that Japan produced 40.4 million tonnes of crude steel in the first half of 2026, representing a marginal 0.4% decline year-on-year. During this period, integrated blast-furnace mills accounted for 29.72 million tonnes, while electric-arc furnace producers contributed 10.68 million tonnes. Notably, the second quarter saw a 1% year-on-year production increase to 20.4 million tonnes, driven by improving demand from the domestic construction and shipbuilding sectors.

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