Tel :
Tel :
According to the latest forecasts from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), demand for crude steel in Japan is projected to reach 20.05 million tons in the first quarter of 2026—a decrease of 0.8% quarter-on-quarter and 1.7% year-on-year. B35A250 Non oriented electrical steel, During the same period, total demand for steel products (including exports) is expected to stand at 18.27 million tons, down 1.6% year-on-year and representing only a marginal upward revision of 0.1% compared to the previous quarter's forecast.
Specifically, demand for ordinary steel is projected at 14.54 million tons, down 1.5% year-on-year and 1.2% quarter-on-quarter; meanwhile, demand for special steel is expected to reach 3.73 million tons—a decline of 1.8% year-on-year, but a rebound of 5.4% quarter-on-quarter.
Regarding downstream demand, the construction sector remains under pressure. The report indicates that steel demand for civil engineering applications is expected to experience a slight year-on-year decline; although public works budgets have generally remained stable, rising material and labor costs continue to constrain project execution. B35A250 Non oriented electrical steel, The broader construction industry is also projected to contract year-on-year, as cost pressures, labor shortages, and softening housing demand collectively contribute to a slowdown in project progress.
The automotive sector continues to exhibit weak performance, with demand for related steel products expected to fall below levels seen during the same period last year. Conversely, the industrial machinery sector is expected to maintain its current trajectory, recording moderate year-on-year growth.
Regarding exports, Japan's steel export volume for the first quarter of 2026 is projected to reach 6.26 million tons—a year-on-year decline of 0.5% but a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2%. B35A250 Non oriented electrical steel, Industry analysts suggest that the continued erosion of Japanese automakers' market share in China and Southeast Asia has rendered the overall demand environment notably more subdued. Concurrently, certain trade measures targeting Japan remain in effect. The report also cautions that close attention must be paid to any further weakening in the supply-demand dynamics of the Chinese steel market—and the potential spillover effects this may have on regional markets—as well as to any subsequent developments regarding U.S. steel tariff policies.
