Tokyo Steel to Expand Plate Business

Tokyo Steel Manufacturing tries to expand the plate business. The firm is under negotiation for the first plate export for June-July shipment. The firm is preparing to apply for shipbuilding plate of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (LR) and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK). The firm started the plate production at Kyushu plant in January after the introduction of state of the art continuous caster and rolling mill. The firm started the market for February order. The firm now produces 2,000 tonnes per month of general structural grade of SS400, welding grade of SM490A and building grade of SN490B with 9-32 millimeters thick, 2,100 and 2,438 mm width and 6,096 mm length. The firm tries to expand the production sizes up to 60 mm thick, 2,500 mm width and 12,192 mm length. The firm also expands the grades including SS490, SS540, SM400A, SM400B, SM400C, SM490B, SM490C, SM490YA, SM490YB, SN400A, SN400B, SN400C and SN490C. The firm will apply for LR, NK and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) grades. The firm now talks with offshore buyers in Middle East and USA for building plate export for June-July shipment. The firm tries to conclude the deal at around FOB US$ 750 per tonne under increasing offshore market though the buyers apparently offer US$ 700. Worldwide plate supply is getting tighter under firm demand for shipbuilding, construction and industrial machinery. Tokyo Steel takes chance to expand plate business through the better products line with more sizes and grades.