Crude Steel Output Falls 3.4% On Year In Feb

TOKYO (NQN)--Crude Steel output for February fell 3.4% on the year to 8.31 million tons, marking the first decline in three months, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation said Tuesday.

Output was nearly unchanged from the previous year when adjusted for the extra day in February last year due to leap year.

Production had been increasing year on year through January, but the rising trend was halted last month. Output of wide band steel, mainly used in cars, and that of zinc-plated steel plates was sluggish. Production of heavy plates used in shipbuilding was also weak.

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