Kobe Steel to Raise Raw Steel Output to 8.3-8.4 million tonnes in F2008

Kobe Steel is planning to increase the raw steel output to 8.3-8.4 million tonnes in fiscal 2008 renewing record 8.1 million tonnes in fiscal 2007 to meet higher demand for high valued steel from manufacturers including automakers. The firm raises the output after expansion of blast furnace at Kakogawa and Kobe works in fiscal 2007. The firm increased the raw steel output by 300,000 tonnes in fiscal 2007 from fiscal 2006 when the output increased by 200,000 tonnes to around 6.8 million tonnes at Kakogawa and by 100,000 tonnes to around 1.3 million tonnes at Kobe. The firm started operation of new no.2 blast furnace with 5,400 cubic meters of capacity at Kakogawa in May 2007 while the firm stopped no.1 furnace with 4,550 cubic meters. The works operates new no.2 furnace and no.3 furnace with 4,500 cubic meters. The firm expanded the capacity of no.3 furnace at Kobe from 1,845 cubic meters to 2,112 cubic meters in December 2007. The firm also completes the expansion work of sinter plant at Kakogawa from 14,500 tonnes per day to 15,500 tonnes in the month. The firm increases the operating rate of 3 blast furnaces from 1.9-1.95 of capacity in fiscal 2007 to 2.0-2.1 in fiscal 2008 to increase the output volume.