Shimizu Steel to Expand Billet Sizes for Export Business

Japanese concrete reinforcing steel bar maker, Shimizu Steel plans to produce larger and longer steel billet to increase billet export. The firm increases the maximum production size of billet to 130 by 130 millimeters square from 120 mm size by facilities modification. The firm also increases the lengths of billet from 6 meters. Shimizu Steel tries to offer wider sizes of billet to compete with Asian rivals when the rivals increase the billet exporting capacity.

Shimizu Steel’s billet output was around 60,000 tonnes in the year ended November 2009 and 82,000 tonnes in the year ended November 2010. The firm plans around 80,000 tonnes of billet production in the year started December 2010. However, the firm would experience hard time while South Korean rivals have additional capacity to export billet due to domestic oversupply.

The steel makers in Southeast Asia also improve the quality. Shimizu Steel makes an investment to increase the billet production size as soon as possible.

Shimizu Steel started the production of rebar with 41 mm diameter in December to meet request from the buyers of general contractors. The firm’s production size increases to 11 types with 10-41 mm diameter.