Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corporation has announced that it will establish a new next-generation hot strip mill at its Nagoya Works. The new mill is expected to come into operation in the first quarter of the financial year 2026 and will have an annual production capacity of approximately 6 million mt. The company said that the existing hot strip mill is scheduled to be shut down in the same year. The investment in the new mill is planned to amount about JPY 270 billion ($2.1 billion).
According to Nippon Steel, in the automotive industry demand for high-performance materials is expected to increase further in response to needs for more lightweight and stronger vehicle bodies, as global environmental regulations and collision safety standards are being tightened and social needs to achieve carbon neutrality are increasing. Electric vehicles are also expected to need more lightweight and stronger vehicle bodies due to the issues of mileage and battery weight. In response to these needs, Nippon Steel will fundamentally strengthen the production system for high-grade steel sheets, such as ultra-high-tensile strength steel sheets, which can also be effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire automobile life cycle from material production through driving.
