In a press release published on April 21, Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corporation has stated that it will implement measures to temporarily stop its blast furnace No. 2 at the East Nippon Works’ Kimitsu area as of the middle of May 2020, as soon as preparations are completed. In addition, the company will adjust or suspend production of some coke ovens at the East Nippon Works’ Kimitsu area in addition to the substantial reduction of their operating rates which has already been executed.
Nippon Steel noted that it has already lowered the tapping ratio of its blast furnaces and taken some other measures to reduce its overall steel output volume - as SteelOrbis has previously reported. The company had previously announced the temporary halting of its blast furnace No. 1 at the East Nippon Works’ Kashima area on April 15 and of blast furnace No. 1 at the Kansai Works’ Wakayama area as of late April. Prior to that, it had announced the provisional halting of blast furnace No. 2 at Setouchi Works’ Kure area as of February 15.