Japan: Nippon Steel to Idle its Two Blast Furnaces in Apr'20

Nippon Steel Corporation has decided to idle its two blast furnaces this month in response to the immediate sharp drop in demand for steel products.

The company said in its press release that the No. 1 blast furnace at the East Nippon Works' Kashima area will be suspended in mid-Apr'20.

While the banking of No. 1 blast furnace at the Kansai Works' Wakayama area will be carried out from late Apr'20, as soon as preparations are completed.

Banking is to take measures to temporarily stop blast furnace production but make it possible to restart production at a later date by stopping the air blast flow.