Tokyo Steel’s H-beam Share Downs to Third in February

Tokyo Steel Manufacturing’s H-beam output share downed to the third in Japan in February. Nippon Steel kept the first position while Sumikin Steel upped to the second. Nippon Steel is likely to gain the first position through fiscal 2009 ending in March 2010 in turn of Tokyo Steel. Mr. Naoto Ohori, Tokyo Steel’s managing director said Tokyo Steel emphasizes profitability more than the market share. Tokyo Steel seems to have reduced order acceptance to keep the profitability in severer sales competition due to low demand. Tokyo Steel is trying to sustain the price level when ferrous scrap price is surging.

Nippon Steel maintained the production volume by increasing the export mainly for South Korea. Tokyo Steel couldn’t get the much export orders due to low contract price. As a result, Tokyo Steel’s output volume lowered.

Nippon Steel’s H-beam output was 62,000 tonnes in February while Sumikin Steel’s output was 51,000 tonnes. Tokyo Steel’s output was 45,000 tonnes and JFE Steel’s output was 42,000 tonnes. Yamato Steel production was 31,000 tonnes. Tokyo Steel’s share was the forth behind of JFE Group.