Japan Integrated Steels Maintain High R&D Investment in F2010

Japanese 5 integrated steel makers’ R&D investment totaled 137.1 billion yen in fiscal 2010 ended in March 2011, which decreased by 1.2% from fiscal 2009 while maintained the high level. In fiscal 2011, they aim growing industrial fields such as energy and environment and advance R&D of high-value added steel products for global environment protection, competitiveness improvement against overseas steel makers’ technology upgrade and capacity enhancement.

Nippon Steel hasn’t announced the consolidated R&D investment plan for fiscal 2011 yet. Meanwhile, the firm plans to focus R&D activities in energy and environment fields for the profit growth. JFE Holdings hasn’t announced R&D investment plan for fiscal 2011, too. The firm continues development of innovative technologies for next ten years to meet global market needs for technology upgrade and capacity enhancement.

Sumitomo Metal Industries plans to invest 24-25 billion yen for R&D in fiscal 2011, 70% for development of new products and 30% for improvement of steel making process. The firm especially focuses in important and short-term R&D themes such as automotive steel products.

Kobe Steel plans to keep R&D investment in fiscal 2011 almost as much as in fiscal 2010. The firm progresses development of future new technologies and steel products for automobile, raw material, energy and environment fields.