Okayama upgrade halts Tokyo Steel's HDG supply

Announcing its product list prices for domestic sale for next month on Tuesday, Tokyo Steel Manufacturing also declared that it will be suspending those of hot-dip galvanized (HDG) coils for several months from September contracts due to equipment construction for the release of cold-rolled coils, the mini-mill explained. Sales are expected to resume after the New Year, it said.

The suspension relates a project underway at its Okayama steelworks in western Japan to modify the existing HDG line there into a Continuous Annealing and Galvanizing Line (CAGL) capable of producing both cold-rolled and galvanized coils. London-based Japanese invested plant builder Primetals Technologies has been contracted by Tokyo Steel to undertake