Japan’s Nippon Steel halts output at Kimitsu plant

Japan's largest steel mill Nippon Steel has partially suspended production today at its Kimitsu plant in eastern Chiba prefecture because of operational issues.

Nippon Steel suspended production at some of its blast furnaces in the plant on the back of operational issues, said the company, without disclosing further details. The suspension is temporary, a company representative told Argus, although it remains unclear when the plant will resume production.

Operational issues can come in a variety of forms, the representative added, including the quality of the raw materials.

The firm has not disclosed output volumes at the Kimitsu plant. Nippon Steel's overall crude steel output for the April 2023-March 2024 fiscal year is estimated at 35mn t, according to the firm, up by 2.2pc from a year earlier.

By Yusuke Maekawa