Japan Steel Makers Gradually Recover Plant Operations

Japanese steel makers have gradually recovered their productive facilities until Tuesday. JFE Steel brought its 2 blast furnaces in Keihin area and Chiba area of East Japan iron works into normal operations until Tuesday.

Nippon Steel restarted blast furnace operation in Kimitsu iron works and raised output level as high as pre-earthquake until Tuesday. Kimitsu iron works maintains full operation of electric power facility and supplies electric power to Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). As for downstream processes, the firm controls rolling operations in balance with TEPCO’s power supply. Kamaishi iron works still stops operation, starting checks for submerged productive equipments and port facilities.

Sumitomo Metal Industries restarted operation of no.3 blast furnace in Kashima iron works. The firm plans to start operation of no.1 blast furnace within a few days. Kashima iron works has already started operation of the spiral steel tube plant, the welded light weight H-beam plant and the large diameter steel tube plant until Saturday.

Some of integrated steel makers recommenced export price negotiations for steel sheet this week. Price talks have almost finished for April shipment while integrated steels aim to keep price hike stances for May-June shipment to cover raw material cost upsurge. As for price negotiations with domestic steel sheet users, mainly electric appliance makers, steel makers are likely to progress talks along with each user’s situation and steel makers’ output unsteadiness.