BHP is to build a coating and painting plant in China
According to market reports, the largest Australian steel producer
BHP Steel is expected to initiate the
construction of a coating and painting plant worth $160 million in
China before the current fiscal ending on June 30, 2004.
Industry sources reveal that this move is highly beneficial as the company has four coating mills with one of them being under
construction, as previously reported by SteelOrbis and twenty six roll-forming mills. Furthermore,
BHP Steel imports
coated and painted steel from its coating lines in
Thailand,
Malaysia and
Indonesia to these roll-forming mills in
China which require over 30'000 tons of
coated steel per year. Besides, company exports around 70'000 tons of
coated products every year to other steel making companies in
China.
An official of the company stated that a decision is expected to come out most probably in the second half of the fiscal year.