NS BlueScope Coated Products, a joint venture (JV) between Australia-based BlueScope Steel Limited and Japan’s Nippon Steel, has announced the launch of its No. 3 metal coating line in Thailand. The production facility capable of producing up to 160,000 mt of zinc/aluminum hot-dip alloy coated steel and painted steel will meet the growing demand in the ASEAN region. The unit is “designed to focus on production of lighter gauge coated and painted products for the residential market,” according to BlueScope. The inauguration of the line was held on January 22, according to local press.
The total coated steel and painted steel capacity of the producer in Thailand has increased to 600,000 mt per year following the recent start-up of the third line. As NS BlueScope Coated Products reported earlier, its two lines in Thailand have a combined coated steel annual capacity of 350,000 mt and a painted capacity of 90,000 mt.
Though the launch of the new line has concurred with lower construction steel demand in Thailand, the producer will strengthen its positions in the ASEAN region as it supplies coated steel products to building projects in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei. It also has plans to increase exports to such developing countries like Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
The total capacity of coated and painted steel of NS BlueScope Coated Products in the overall ASEAN region was 1.9 million mt per year before the recent expansion and now exceeds 2 million mt.