Steel Market Update reports on Japanese steel mills & manufacturing affected by earthquake

March 14, 2011

Steel Market Update has researched the status of various steel mills and manufacturing facilities in Japan that have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami that hit the country on March 11.

A report by John Packard posted on steelmarketupdate.com said that "according to a Saturday news report out of Asia One Business, Sumitomo Metal Industries is reported to have suspended operations at its Kashima steel mill's two blast furnaces after a fire broke out at that plant. Indonesia Today reported on Sunday, Sumitomo suspended all manufacturing operations in Kashima. Company officials were reported to have said, 'We are checking the conditions of the facilities in Kashima to determine the impact on production schedules.'"

According to the Steel Market Update report, Indonesia Today also reported that Nippon Steel Corp. has suspended operations at Kamaishi Works. The mill had reported in a press statement that steel mills are flooded and port facilities are damaged, however, Kimitsu Works had partially resumed its operations as of Sunday.

JFE Steel reportedly resumed operations at one of its two blast furnaces idled after the earthquake, and the second was supposed to restart late Sunday.

As of Saturday, Nissan Motor Co. had suspended operations at four plants and an operations center and had planned to reassess the situation on Sunday.

Toyota had announced the closure of all plants for Monday, March 14, to account for the safety of all its employees.

Subaru producer Fuji Heavy Industries suspended operations at all car and parts-related plants in Gunma prefecture, north of Tokyo and suspended operations at its aircraft and power products factories in Tochigi (as of Saturday).

Early weekend news reports had Honda Motor Co. closing three plants.

The full report can be found here.