Nippon Steel to Restart Kimitsu Blast Furnace Steel Operations

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Leading Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel announced plans to restart operations at No.2 Kimitsu blast furnace by late November this year. The decision is mainly attributed to recovery in domestic as well as overseas steel demand, after the Covid-19 slowdown. It must be noted that the company had halted production at the furnace by mid-June this year.

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According to Nippon Steel, there has been a gradual recovery in domestic production, especially in the production of automobiles. The Japanese auto production has climbed higher significantly since lifting of Covid-19 related emergency. The increased steel demand from Japanese automobile manufacturers has led to boosted crude steel output by the country in the month of August this year. The monthly crude steel production in August had surged higher by 7% from the prior month to total 6.4 million tonnes.

The company had halted operations at 6 out of the 15 blast furnaces, in response to slump in market demand. The Muroran blast furnace is scheduled to restart operations in November following maintenance. This leaves four of the company’s blast furnaces still suspended. Nippon Steel’s plans to bring No.2 Kimitsu blast furnace back online follows the decision by JFE Steel to restart one of its shut blast furnaces.