According to the Japan Iron & Steel Federation, Japan's nationwide production of small bars totaled 753,600 tonnes in April 2011, up by 5.9% YoY and up by 8.6% MoM, indicating a year on year increase for the first time in two months, when it stood at a high monthly level of 750,000 tonnes for the first time in six months since October 2010.

As a result, nationwide production of small bars marked a recovery from a temporary decline after the East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster.

In January to April 2011 period, nationwide production of small bars totaled 2,838,500 tonnes, up 6.3% from the same period of 2010, translating into an annualized 8,520,000 tonnes.

(Sourced from TEX Report Limited)