After declining for two consecutive months, Japan's domestic steel demand finally rebounded in September. Latest data showed ordinary steel orders reached 2.76 million tons, a 4.1% increase compared to the same period last year.

This growth was primarily driven by two key sectors: the construction industry, which is gradually recovering, and manufacturing, particularly strong order performance from the automotive and industrial machinery sectors.

However, the construction industry's recovery still faces some obstacles, including persistent labor shortages and continued high raw material prices that continue to constrain development.

Although the overall order volume remains relatively modest, market participants generally view this growth as a positive signal. Many in the industry believe this upturn may indicate that the steel market has bottomed out, suggesting the worst may be over and a gradual recovery is underway.