South Korea: Steel giants POSCO, Hyundai Steel schedule Q4 maintenance

Steel Daily: POSCO and Hyundai Steel, South Korea's leading steel producers, have announced plans for regular maintenance at their hot rolling mills in Q4. The scheduled downtime is expected to impact production capacity, with both companies aiming to minimise disruptions.

POSCO's Gwangyang no. 3 hot-rolled steel mill, which began maintenance in mid-September, is slated for completion by mid-October. The Gwangyang no. 2 hot-rolling mill will undergo major maintenance for approximately 20 days from early to mid-November, affecting its 5.1 million tonnes (mnt) annual production capacity.

Hyundai Steel has scheduled repairs for its hot-rolled and thick plate plants. The Dangjin no. 2 hot-rolled steel mill with 5.5 mnt annual capacity is currently undergoing 10-days repair, while the no. 1 hot-rolled steel mill of 3.5 mnt of production capacity will undergo similar maintenance in mid-October.

Additionally, Hyundai Steel's Dangjin 1st plate plant will undergo repairs in October, focussing on expanding heat-treated material production capacity by upgrading its heat-treatment furnace from 150,000 to 300,000 t. The Dangjin no. 2 plate mill will have a shorter, nine-day maintenance period starting in early November.

These scheduled maintenances demonstrate POSCO and Hyundai Steel's commitment to ensuring optimal production efficiency and quality. While the downtime may impact short-term production, the long-term benefits of regular maintenance will support the companies' competitiveness in the global steel market.

Note: This report has been written in accordance with an article exchange agreement between Steel Daily and BigMint.