NSSC to Streamline Stainless Flat Steel Distribution

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel (NSSC), Sumitomo Corporation and Nippon Steel Trading announced on Thursday they agreed to integrate their domestic stainless coil centers with Nippon Stainless Shoji, which is stainless distributor with direct purchase from NSSC, launching new firm on July 1. They seek synergy by integration of the functions of wholesalers, distributors and processors for better competitiveness and market position. The new firm has around 15% of stainless flat steel market share in Japan with annual 90 billion yen of sales and 200,000 tonnes of sales volume. Sumitomo Corp. and Nippon Steel Trading have each 36% shares in the new firm with 28% share by NSSC. They integrate domestic stainless flat steel businesses of Sumitomo Corp. and Nippon Steel Trading and Nippon Stainless Shoji. The new firm will control coil centers of NSSC and Sumitomo Corp. NSSC tries to improve the efficiency of stainless distribution system. Sumitomo Corp. and Nippon Steel Trading provide marketing support to improve the supply chain. They also try to improve the quality control through the chain.