NSSC to Idle Some Production Lines for 6 Months

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel (NSSC) announced on Wednesday the firm expands the production cut for cold rolled flat steel at Hikari and Kashima plants. The firm plans to cut the production by 50% for stainless steel making in January-March compared with the production capacity. The production of bar and wire rod and cold rolled flat steel will decrease as the steel making. The firm reduces the plate production by 30%. The firm stops the operation of no.2 sendzimir mill and no.1 bright annealing line at Hikari and no.3 cold rolling mill and no.4 annealing and pickling line at Kashima in February for around 6 months.

The firm will stop the lines as early as in mid-January. The production of bright annealing is transferred to Kashima from Hikari when Hikari has only no.1 line.

The firm decided the major production cut for cold rolled flat steel when the stoppage is better than slower operation while the firm gradually expanded the production cut. The firm keeps delivery on lower level order receipt despite of the stoppage while the firm transfers some production from idled facilities to other facilities in accordance with the users’ approvals.

The firm announced in November the steelmaking production would be maximum 50% and around 30% of the capacity in October-March period.