Nippon Steel’s Oita Keeps High Level Production

Nippon Steel’s Oita works expects the raw steel output hit second high level in fiscal 2011 ending March 2012. The volume is 9.518 million tonnes in the year compared with record 9.634 million tonnes in fiscal 2010. The hot rolled coil output also hits second high while the plate production decreases due to facility trouble.

The hot coil production is 6.174 million tonnes in fiscal 2011 compared with record 6.208 million tonnes in fiscal 2010. The plate production is third high at 2.138 million tonnes in fiscal 2011 compared with record 2.485 million tonnes in fiscal 2010.

High level export supports the high level production. The export rate is around 46% in fiscal 2011, which is around 5 percentage points higher than fiscal 2010 level. The works increases the supply to North America, Europe and Africa along with the main market of Asia.