According to announced data from the Japan Iron & Steel Federation, Japan's domestic production of small bars totaled 816,700 tonnes in October 2011, up by 14.7% YoY and also up by 7.1% MoM, indicating a YoY increase for four consecutive months.

As a result, domestic production of small bars hit a level of 800,000 tonnes for the first time in three years since October 2008 when it totaled nearly 832,000 tonnes. In the background were end users' increased small bar orders to meet requirements in construction of nursing homes and hospitals, and in retrofitting of school facilities. On the positive side too was a recovery of demand for condominiums in the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area after the doldrums in the wake of the March 11th 2011 East Japan earthquake and tsunami.

In January to October 2011 period, nationwide production of small bars totaled 7,176,500 tonnes, up by 3.6% YoY, averaging 718,000 tonnes per month, when the cumulative production volume translated into an annualized 8,610,000 tonnes.

Nationwide production totaled 5,091,500 tonnes in April to October 2011 period or in the first seven months of fiscal 2011 (April 2011 to March 2012), up 2.5% from the corresponding period of fiscal 2010, translating into an annualized 8,730,000 tonnes.

(Sourced from TEX Report Limited)