Nippon Steel Trading Expands Steel Trade in Asia

Nippon Steel Trading, Nippon Steel’s trading subsidiary, plans to increase international steel trade by 1.5 times to 3 million tonnes per year in fiscal 2011 ending in March 2012 compared with fiscal 2009. The firm tries to expand steel sales for infrastructure constructions in China and other Asian countries, such as a steel pipe pile project in Vietnam, through utilization of own coil centers and a newly investing company, PT Latinusa, Indonesian tin plate maker. Nippon Steel Trading also strengthens global sales network in Indonesia, Vietnam and plans to establish a new branch in Mumbai, India at the end of September 2010.

Mr. Kazuo Yamaguchi, Nippon Steel Trading’s senior managing director, said the firm aims to contribute to Nippon Steel group by expansion of offshore trade business division. The firm will raise export sales ratio to 40% for fiscal 2010-2011 in cooperation with Nippon Steel. The firm plans 10 billion yen investment to overseas projects during 2 years of fiscal 2010-2011.

The firm has shifted 16 staffs to the international trade division from domestic trade division. The staff number is currently 57 at overseas and 97 in the headquarters’ international trade division. Nippon Steel Trading’s international steel trade increased by 43% to 2 million tonnes in fiscal 2009 from fiscal 2008. The firm plans to increase the trade volume to 2.5 million tonnes in fiscal 2010.