Japan Stainless, Ti Makers Rush to Middle East Desalination Projects

Japanese stainless steel makers and rolled titanium makers rush to large scale desalination plant projects in Middle East when many large projects are planned in Yanbu area of Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The largest project, Yanbu 3 will consume around 10,000 tonnes of stainless steel and 5,000 tonnes of titanium, while other 2 projects use 3,000 tonnes of duplex stainless steel and titanium. Japanese industries try to increase the stainless steel and titanium shipment for the plants in Middle East.

South Korean Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, joint venture of Samsung Group and Japanese marine equipment maker, Sasakura Engineering and European companies would participate in the tender for the construction of Yanbu 3. The construction is expected to start around August.

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel Corporation got order from Doosan in November 2010 to ship about 9,000 tonnes of duplex stainless steel plate for Ras Al-Zour, Saudi Arabia. Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel also got order to ship total around 4,000 tonnes of titanium, which represents around 30% of Japanese domestic titanium products shipment in fiscal 2009 ended March 2010.