Japan's crude steel production in November fell 2.3 percent from a year before to 8.498 million tonnes,down for the third straight month

The Japan Iron and Steel Federation said that demand is sluggish among Japanese manufacturers such as automakers

Production of steel from electric furnaces dropped 10.4%to 1.976 million tonnes,the fourth consecutive month of decrease.Steel output from converters rose 0.4%to 6.522 million tonnes,the first increase in three months.

Steel production for fiscal 2012 is estimated at between 106 million tonnes and 107 million tonnes,almost unchanged from the year-before figure of 106.46 million tonnes