Japan has positioned itself as a strategic player globally as the second largest steel producer. Being an essential requirement for all infrastructural construction, the steel industry is closely linked with the development of the Japanese economy. The continuous surge of steel consumption in the automobile, energy, construction, and consumer goods sectors has significantly improved growth prospects of Japanese steel industry. However, the industry is facing some serious threats from the negative impact of the global economic crisis and increasing competition from its foreign ...

In 2011, growth in Malaysian steel consumption will be determined by the implementation speeds of infrastructure projects under the Economic Transformation Programme, according to this latest Malaysia Metals Report from BMI. Although the outlook for the country's construction sector has improved over the last quarter due to a significant increase in government spending on infrastructure (thereby improving prospects for steel longs), growth in the construction sector is expected at a modest 1-2.5% per annum over the forecast period.
The construction sector is vital to the recovery of the ...

The Malaysian steel and aluminium industries are set to sustain a recovery in 2011, lifted by strong domestic demand following the global downturn. In addition, the Malaysian government is financing several projects through the Economic Transformation Programme. However, protectionist measures are likely to benefit mills at the expense of downstream fabricators and manufacturers.
Construction steel consumption declined from a peak of 3.88mn tonnes in 2007 to 3.12mn tonnes in 2009, but saw a rebound in 2010, with BMI estimating growth of 10% to 3.37mn tonnes, reversing much of the ...

During the last few years, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has positioned itself as a key player in the global steel industry. Moreover, countries like, Russia, Ukraine has positioned themselves as dominant forces in the global steel industry. Steel consumption throughout the region has increased sharply mainly on the back of growing demand from the construction industry. The proximity with other European countries and low production costs enormously benefited these countries and Russia being the largest reservoir of iron ore and steel plants, utilized the opportunities ...

Russian steel output growth was impressive in 2010 and the recovery is likely to be sustained in 2011, supported by a healthy domestic market, according to this latest Russia Metals Report from BMI. In 2010, Russian crude steel output was up 12.5% year-on-year (y-o-y), to 67.4mn tonnes. Steel capacity utilisation level was around 88% by end-2010 and finished steel output grew by around 11% to 57.8mn tonnes, according to BMI estimates. Domestic steel consumption grew by around 11.2% to 31.2mn tonnes in 2010. In January-October 2010, Russia's rolled steel product exports amounted to ...