Nippon Steel Expects Tin Plate Demand Keeps Flat in Japan

Nippon Steel, Japanese largest supplier of tin plate and tin-free plate, forecasts domestic demand for tin plate and tin-free plate would keep flat at about 1.1 million tonnes in fiscal 2007 ending March 2008 compared with fiscal 2006. The firm expects the demand would maintain flat in fiscal 2008.Demand for tin plate and tin-free plate has decreased since fiscal 1991 when the demand hit the peak at about 2 million tonnes. The background is that steel can consumption is decreasing for coffee cans or congratulation gifts. Nippon Steel aims to develop the can market for alcohol beverage where aluminum can is almost fully applied. The firm will increase adoption of steel can through Japan Steel Can Recycling Association.There is misunderstanding steel can can’t be recycled when recycling dealers take up only aluminum can from grade schools or residents’ associations considering collecting and recycling costs, said Nippon Steel source. The firm will work to promote can resumption by schools or residents’ associations with the association, adoption of steel cans by beverage makers as well.Nippon Steel supplies tin plate and tin-free plate for cans at about 400,000 tonnes per year against the domestic total demand of about 1.1 million tonnes.