May. 08, 2020

Nippon Steel Corporation

Nippon Steel Corporation has been lowering the tapping ratio of blast furnaces, extending the time between blasting, and taking other measures to reduce overall steel output volume. Responding to the immediate sharp drop in demand for steel products, however, we have decided to implement additional measures as follows:

-Move up the scheduled blow off (suspension of operation) to renovate the No. 2 blast furnace of Hokkai Iron & Coke Corporation that has the pig iron facilities in the Muroran Works from the beginning of July 2020, as soon as preparations are completed.

-The banking* of the No. 2 blast furnace at the Kyushu Works’ Yawata area (Kokura) will be carried out from the beginning of July 2020, as soon as preparations are completed. The No.2 blast furnace is planned to be shutdown by around the end of FY2020.1H.

* Banking is to take measures to temporarily stop blast furnace production but make it possible to restart production at a later date by stopping the air blast flow.

We intend to continue responding to changes in steel demand in Japan and overseas and carrying out prompt and effective production adjustment.

Reference: Nippon Steel Corporation Blast furnace banking
                                                         Banking-in Date
Setouchi Works’ Kure area　　　　　No.2 blast furnace　　 Feb. 15, 2020
East Nippon Works’ Kashima area　 No. 1 blast furnace　　Apr. 15, 2020
Kansai Works’ Wakayama area　     No. 1 blast furnace  　 Apr. 25, 2020
East Nippon Works’ Kimitsu area     No. 2 blast furnace      mid May 2020, as soon as preparations are completed

For inquiries
Public Relations Center Tel: +81-3-6867-2135, 2146, 2977, 3419