Japanese five integrated steel makers carried out research & development investment at total 66.639 billion yen for April-September 2011 on consolidated base, increasing by 1% from the same period of fiscal 2010. Nippon Steel’s R&D investment decreased by 3% to 22.9 billion yen while JFE Holdings’ increased by 2.1% to 15.795 billion yen.
Sumitomo Metal Industries decreased R&D investment by 3.6% to 10.6 billion yen while Kobe Steel increased the investment by 10.9% to 15.2 billion yen. Nisshin Steel’s investment decreased by 5.5% to 2.144 billion yen. In the second quarter (July-September), R&D investment increased by 2.5% to 12.1 billion yen at Nippon Steel, by 4.5% to 8.43 billion yen at JFE Holdings and by 15.3% to 8.3 billion yen at Kobe Steel. Meanwhile, the investment decreased by 1.9% to 5.3 billion yen at Sumitomo Metals and by 5.5% to 1.098 billion yen at Nisshin Steel. Total investment increased by 4.7% to 35.228 billion yen. Japanese integrated steels have advanced R&D for high value added steel products such for energy and environment demand fields in fiscal 2011. They have followed overseas steel makers’ technological advancement and output expansion as well as customers’ new requirements for environment and other terms.