Crude steel production in Japan fell by 26.3 percent in fiscal 2009, according to data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation on Monday.
For the fiscal year, which ended on March 31, the nation produced 87.5 million tons of crude steel, down from 118.7 tons for the previous year.
However, the nation logged its fifth consecutive month of year- on-year increase in March, producing 62.8 percent more than in the month in fiscal 2008.
Iron and steel production in Japan has been strong in recent months because of increasing demand from overseas, particularly Asia.
As the world's No. 2 economy continues its tentative economic recovery, it is expected that production of iron and steel will continue to increase.