Metal One Targets 5 Million T Steel Trade in North, Central America

Metal One Corporation plans to increase the steel trading to annual 5 million tonnes in North and Central America in long term. The volume increases in 2011 after the figure increased by 30% to 3 million tonnes in 2010 from 2009. The firm tries to increase the business in Central and South America while the firm expands automobile and energy business. The firm expands plate processing business at Tubular Structures International while Metal One invests in Mexican market. The firm targets major jump in mid-term plan from fiscal 2012 starting April 2012 based on expanded business and profitability.

The holding company, Metal One Holdings America (MOHA) manages the North and Central American business covers 8 subsidiaries and 2 equity method affiliates. The coil center business has 12 plants. The coil center operating company of Coilplus added Coilplus in Mexico in June to existing operations with 9 plants. The coil center company targets 50% higher processing volume through expansion and acquisition. Metal One also operates steel service center through Metal One Canada and Nicometal Mexicana.

Metal One America focuses on trading including sales activity for sheet steel from US makers and wire rod and special steel import from Japan. The firm tries to increase the trading volume and invest in new businesses for future growth. The firm also develops Central and South American market through investment and loan to promising companies.

Metal One Mexico prepares for start up of Tenigal in 2013, which is hot dip galvanizing steel making joint venture between Nippon Steel and Ternium. Metal One Mexico expands business through cooperation with group’s 2 coil centers and launched new office in Monterrey in September. The firm tries to follow growing steel demand in Mexico when the country’s automobile output will reach 3 million units in 2015.

Metal One Canada operates the coil center at full capacity mainly for General Motors. The Canadian operation processes flat steel, 95% of which is from North American steel makers, as localization effort. The center offers new flat steel materials to new models and improves the functions to higher level.

Nifast established optimum procurement of bolt and nut and sells the products from the own inventory. The firm has electronic data interchange system to manage order depending on automakers’ production plan. The firm expands the trading share through the efficient system.

MC Tubular Products deals steel pipe for energy industry. The firm expands the sales to active shale gas development and develops South American market.

MOHA tries to expand the business to improve each functional operation in stable growing North and Central American market. The firm eyes annual 10 million tonnes of steel trade in vision toward 2020.