Nisshin Steel, Hanwa, Mitsui to Build Stainless Coil Center in Shanghai

Nisshin Steel will build new stainless coil center in Shanghai with Hanwa Co. and Mitsui & Co. after they authorize the plan as early as in the month. They try to meet higher stainless demand mainly for housing equipments in China. The center is to expand the downstream operation of stainless cold rolling joint venture in Ningbo, Zhejian, in which they have interest. Nisshin will have 30% of the new center with 20% share by Hanwa and Mitsui each and 30% by local firm. Chinese demand of stainless steel surges. Chinese apparent consumption of stainless steel increased by 16.7% or 750,000 tonnes to 5.22 million tonnes in 2005 from 2004, according to China Special Steel Association Stainless Steel branch. The stainless flat products represented 4.44 million tonnes or 85% of the total demand. Chinese stainless crude steel output increased by 33.7% or 790,000 tonnes to 3.16 million tonnes. Nisshin Steel, Hanwa and Mitsui joined stainless cold rolling joint venture, Ningbo Baoxin Stainless Steel in 1996. Baosteel Group controls 54% of the venture with 22% share by Nisshin Steel, 7% by Mitsui and 5% by Hanwa.