Nippon Steel to Hike Civil Works Steels by 5-10% in 2H F2011

Nippon Steel increases the selling price of civil work steel products including steel pipe pile and sheet pile by 5-10% for October order. The firm tries to improve the profitability through the hike when iron ore and coking coal cost keeps high level while the firm realized certain price hike since April after the price decreased widely in fiscal 2010 ended March 2011 due to severe competition with shrinking domestic demand.

The steel demand is expected to increase by 10-20% for civil works in the second half of fiscal 2011 from the first half. The demand increases for rebuilding efforts in damaged areas by the major earthquake along with tsunami barrier at nuclear power plants in Shimane, Niigata and Shizuoka. Metropolitan areas’ redevelopment projects including new fish market facility in Tokyo. Recent heavy rain damage also increases the demand for immediate repair.

Nippon Steel decided the price hike for the civil work steel products when the firm needs better profitability to secure steel source stably when the firm tries to increase steel products output in the second half to meet higher automobile and manufacturers’ demand under the higher cost structure.