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Nippon Steel, peers urge Tokyo to curb steel imports from China, executive states

Nippon Steel and other Japanese steelmakers are advising Tokyo to think about suppressing low-cost steel imports from China, the world's biggest steel manufacturer, to protect the Japanese market, Nippon Steel Vice Chairman Takahiro Mori said in an interview.

As Nippon Steel tries to close its acquisition of U.S. Steel , key to its worldwide expansion, Mori, who is the lead arbitrator for the offer, also stated he gained support of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the takeover when they met in June, though he has not talked about the deal given that ending up being the Democratic vice governmental prospect.

China's steel exports rose 24% to 53.4 million lots in the initially half of 2024, on track for 100 million tons for the year. Imports of common steel by Japan, the world's No. 3 manufacturer, risen by 17% to 1.32 million metric loads in April-June, with imports from China jumping 43%, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation information programs.

China's exports could increase even more as regional need come by about 30 million lots every year, Mori said, anticipating Chinese demand to stay weak this year. We are lobbying the government to consider measures including anti-dumping tasks.

The United States, Europe and South Korea, to name a few, have actually implemented trade policies to restrict Chinese steel imports, Mori stated.

Just Japan is exposed. We remain in a very unsafe situation ... If we do not safeguard it, the Japanese market will go wrong, he said.

Any action to suppress imports would be uncommon for Japan, which is more often the target of anti-dumping actions by other countries when it comes to steel.

GROWTH IN United States, COKING COAL

The world's fourth-biggest steelmaker aspires to close the $ 14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by the end of 2024 which need to add 30 billion-40 billion yen ($ 208 million-$ 277 million). to Nippon Steel's revenue in January-March quarter, Mori said.

Nippon Steel's net earnings forecast of 340 billion yen for. the current fiscal year does not include the acquisition, which. faces opposition from some Democrats and Republicans consisting of. governmental prospect Donald Trump.

Mori, who went to the U.S. 5 times this year to talk to. various stakeholders, fulfilled Walz at a U.S. Steel's plant opening. ceremony in Minnesota in June, before Democratic presidential. candidate Kamala Harris selected him as her running mate.

Walz invited investment in Minnesota and revealed a very. strong interest in U.S.-Japan relations, Mori stated, including Walz. expressed his support to the acquisition deal at the time.

Mori prepares another U.S. trip next month to continue the. dialogue with stakeholders.

To acquire assistance from politicians and labour unions, Nippon. Steel hired former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as an. consultant and revealed this week a strategy to invest an extra. $ 1.3 billion in U.S. Steel's mills.

Last week, Nippon Steel concurred with Whitehaven Coal. to purchase a 20% stake in the Blackwater coking coal mine in. Australia for $720 million, boosting its self-sufficiency ratio. of the essential steel-making ingredient to 35%. Nippon Steel targets. a ratio above 40% to offset the effect of basic material rates.

We'll consider buying more interests in coking coal mines. if a bargain emerges, Mori said.

He declined to talk about whether the business would bid for. Anglo American's coking coal possessions.

(source: Reuters)