Sumitomo Electric Eyes Indian Trolley Wire Plant

Sumitomo Electric Industries eyes Indian plant to make trolley wire, which copper electric wire for electric train. The firm already started study for Indian market and started contact with local government when the firm expects India will expand rail network with higher trolley wire demand. The firm could establish the joint venture with local company while the firm has no time frame yet.

The firm already has the joint venture plant in Yantai, Shandong of China. The firm now eyes India and Brazil as potential high growth market due to expectation for development of rail network in the counties with large population and large territory. The firm tries to establish local production base for stable supply while the firm also eyes development the growing market with export from Japan and China initially.

The Chinese plant makes more than 3,000 tonnes per year of trolley wire after the operation start in 2006. Yantai Jinhui Copper Industry controls 72% of the JV with 18% share by Sumitomo Electric and 10% share by Itochu Corporation. Sumitomo Electric estimates the joint venture is one of the top 4 in Chinese market.

China builds annual 20,000 kilometers of rail network. India could follow the move. Sumitomo Electric tries to develop offshore growing market when Japanese trolley wire demand is only 200-300 tonnes per month recently.