NSSC to Keep 30% Cut for Ni Stainless Cold Flat Steel Output

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel (NSSC) announced on Wednesday the firm will keep 30% output reduction of nickel series stainless cold rolling operation at Hikari plant through March 2008. The firm reduces the output by 30% from a year earlier level in July and by 40% in August and September. The firm also announced 20,000 yen per tonne price hike for the products for domestic distributors for November order from previous month to reflect higher nickel price in September and October. NSSC said the demand for cold rolled products hit bottom but the demand for contract users is still lower level and the construction application is likely to keep low for a while. With the lower actual demand, NSSC decided the output reduction. The firm keeps the stainless steel output when the offshore demand for hot rolled stainless flat steel is recovering. The firm tries to keep the supply balance for October-March period through the output reduction and sales volume reduction for domestic market.