According to announced data from the Japan Iron & Steel Federation, Japan's nationwide production of small bars totaled 763,200 tonnes in May 2012, up by 2.4% YoY, indicating a year on year increase for 11 consecutive months since July 2011, but it decreased by 0.8% MoM from the previous month, a decrease for two consecutive months.

As a result, nationwide production of small bars totaled 3,815,000 tonnes in January to May 2012, up by 6.3% YoY from the same period of 2011, when the cumulative production volume translated into an annualized 9,160,000 tonnes. Nationwide production totaled 1,532,400 tonnes in April to May 2012 or in the first two months of fiscal 2012 (April 2012 to March 2013), up by 2.4% YoY, when the cumulative production volume translated into an annualized 9,190,000 tonnes.

Source - TEX Report Limited

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