JFE Bars & Shapes to Increase Special Steel Output by 40% in October

Sendai works of JFE Bars & Shapes, Japanese major electric steel maker, plans to increase steel production by about 40% to 70,000 tonnes in October from September. The works aims to enter full operation as early as possible to meet current strong demand.

The works had produced steel bar at 55,000 tonnes per month and steel wire rod at 25,000 tonnes per month, those which were mainly special steels, until February. In March, the works was damaged and shut down by the disaster of the Great East Japan Earthquake. JFE Bars & Shapes requested alternate supply of special steels to JFE Steel, the parent company, as well as to other integrated steel makers and special steel makers.

Offers for special steel bar and wire rod are expected to increase rapidly for October-March along with automakers’ output recovery. JFE Bars & Shapes focused on early recommencement of Sendai works. As a result, bar factory restarted operation on July 14, wire rod factory on July 31, steel making factory on August 16, and billet processing factory on August 20.

The works recommenced ferrous scrap procurement in September. Steel making volume was above 50,000 tonnes per month and rolling output was near 50,000 tonnes per month. In October, steel making and rolling output is recovering to 70,000 tonnes level per month. Alternate supply by other steel makers has mostly finished.