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Crude steel production in 2005 totaled 112.47 million tons, down 0.2% from the previous year.
However, it exceeded the 100-million-ton mark for the sixth year in a row and posted the
fourth-largest tonnage on record, after registering 119.32 million tons in 1973, 117.13 million tons in
1974, and 112.72 million tons in 2004. Notably, production of crude special steel reached 24.54
million tons, rising 4.0%, or 0.95 million tons, over the year before, when the previous record of
23.58 million tons was posted. Thus, crude special steel production hit a record high for the fourth
straight year. By demand sector, demand from manufacturers continued firm as in the previous
year, particularly in such major user industries as motor vehicles, shipbuilding, and industrial
machinery. On the other hand, demand from the construction sector fell slightly below the previous
year's level from both building construction and civil engineering projects. Meanwhile, slackening
demand in Southeast Asian markets and other factors caused exports ― shipments of
general-purpose products in particular ― to trend downward in the second half. As a result,
exports ended up below the previous year's level.
Production of hot-rolled ordinary steel products totaled 80.85 million tons, down 3.0%, or 2.50
million tons, from the previous year. Supported by strong demand from the manufacturing sector,
output of plates, hot-rolled wide strips, and other flat-rolled products continued at a high level. In
early autumn, however, production started trending downward as an inventory glut began to be
perceived, particularly for flat-rolled products. On the other hand, hot-rolled special steel production
reached 20.36 million tons, an increase of 0.52 million tons, or 2.6%, over the previous year. It
posted growth for the sixth consecutive year, breaking the all-time record established the year
before.
The production data (PDF)
