Tokyo Kohtetsu Diverts Shipment for Offshore Market

Tochigi based angle maker, Tokyo Kohtetsu’s domestic shipment decreased by around 30% in October-December from same period of 2006. The firm expects the shipment decreases by around 30% in January-March from same period of 2007 due to very slow building activity. The firm started the billet export since last summer to cover the loss and the export rate including billet and angle reached more than 30% of total shipment. The firm tries to keep the aggressive export when the domestic demand keeps slow. The firm produces around 22,000 tonnes per month of angle and billet at Oyama plant in Tochigi. The firm exports around 2,000 tonnes per month for buyers in Taiwan and South Korea since August 2007. The firm tries to keep the operation level through the export when the shipment of colored angle for autoclaved lightweight concrete, which is material for roof and partition, decreases by around 50% from normal level under very slow building activity after new building standard law started in June 2007. The firm tries to improve the productivity and quality along with environmental improvement. The firm completes the new flicker mitigation equipment in August 2008 while the firm renews transmission and dust collector in August. The firm idles the steel making and rolling operation for 3 weeks in August due compared with 2 weeks of regular maintenance. The firm tries to improve the corporate value through the better operation base and services.