Vietnam-based steelmaker Hoa Phat Group has said in an official statement that its sales in March will exceed February volumes despite the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in the country and the tough situation globally. Moreover, exports of both finished steel and steel billet will also keep improving, it said.
In February this year, Hoa Phat’s total sales reached 205,490 mt of construction steel, up slightly over the same period last year, as SteelOrbis reported earlier. The company’s billet exports totalled 100,000 mt in February, while its finished steel sales abroad were 40,000 mt.
According to the manufacturer, the raw materials supply chain has not been disrupted, taking into account necessary inventories and the possibility of getting supplies from alternative sources.
Nevertheless, the launch of its first HRC line under the second phase of Dung Quat project has been postponed due to the travel restrictions for Danieli Group employees. The installation of equipment has been accomplished and trial production was expected to start on April 1.” As soon as the Covid-19 epidemic is under control, the Danieli side will send experts and the HRC line of the Hoa Phat Dung Quat Complex will go into operation,” the producer said in its official statement.
