Total crude steel production in Japan reached 55.4 million metric tons for the first half of fiscal 2003 (April through September) according to the Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF). This is a 1.4 percent increase compared with the like period in fiscal 2002. This is also the first time that Japan's total crude steel production has ever exceeded 55 million metric tons for the half of a fiscal year in 12 years since Japan recorded 55.6 million metric tons of crude steel production for the first half of fiscal 1991. The ongoing demand for steel in Japan is due largely to exports to Asian markets, especially to the People's Republic of China. On the other hand, in the domestic markets, steel demand for the export-related industries, such as the automotive industry, has been at very high levels. Consequently, at this pace, Japan will produce more than 109 million metric tons of steel this year (fiscal 2003: April 2003 through March 2004), which is much higher than 103 through 105 million metric tons that was expected previously by JISF.
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