2009-03-23 China Daily

China to cap steel output at 460m tons in 2009

China plans to cap its crude steel output at 460 million tons in 2009 and at around 500 million tons in 2010 as it pushes the world's biggest steel industry to get into shape.

The country also plans to close steelmaking 製鋼 capacity of 25 million tons and iron-making 製鉄 capacity of 72 million tons in the next three years, the country's top planning body said in a strategy plan on Monday.

The plan, posted on the website of the National Development and Reform Commission, www.ndrc.gov.cn, confirmed a Reuters report of Feb 18.

Global demand for steel has slumped in the fallout from the economic crisis, forcing Chinese steel firms to seek shelter in construction projects backed by a $586 billion State stimulus package. But by doing so, they are putting themselves at the mercy of government ambitions for belt-tightening.

The plan urged steel mills to consolidate so that the top five mills jointly account for more than 45 percent of the nation's total capacity, while facilities located in coastal areas amount to more than 40 percent of the country's capacity.

That move aims to cut pollution in major cities, the plan said. China's 20th-century steel boom left thousands of blast furnaces in every corner of the country, and this decade's double-digit economic growth years turbo-charged the rush into steel.

Analysts have said that the relocation would also help to decrease operating costs for the mills.

Shanghai-headquartered Baosteel Group will take over the 10th-biggest mill, Baotou, while the country's No 4 Anben Iron and Steel, based in the northeastern province of Liaoning, will merge with Panzhihua, a top mill in western China, the detailed plan said.

Steel firms in the northern city of Tianjin will be consolidated locally, while Taiyuan Iron and Steel, China's top stainless steel maker and parent of Taigang, will take over small rivals in home Shanxi province, the plan said.

The country will concentrate on encouraging consolidations among mills in different regions as some such moves processed slowly and partially due to their respective government assets monitors, analysts have said.

The consolidation drive could support steel firms' profitability since China has a massive amount of excess capacity, with last year's 500 million tons of production overshadowed by more than 600 million tons of annual capacity.

　「人民網日本語版」2010年3月10日

粗鋼生産量ランキング　宝鋼3位・河北鋼鉄2位

　英国の鉄鋼関連調査会社のSteel Business Briefing（SBB）はこのほど、2009年の世界の鉄鋼企業による粗鋼生産量上位20社ランキングを発表した。それによると、宝鋼集団は3位となり、河北鋼鉄集団が4千万トンを突破して2位に躍進した。

　トップは前年に続いてアルセロール・ミタルで、生産量は7320万トンに達した。2位の河北鋼鉄は4020万トン、3位の宝鋼は3887万トン（前年比9.9％増）だった。

　トップ10には河北鋼鉄、宝鋼のほかにも、武鋼集団（3030万トン、5位）、鞍本集団（2930万トン、6位）、沙鋼集団（2640万トン、7位）が名を連ねた。

　このほかトップ10には、ポハンスティーラース（3110万トン、4位）、新日鐵（2430万トン、8位）、JFEスチール（2350万トン、9位）、タタ・スティール（2190万トン、10位）が並んだ。

　SBBは2001年にロンドンで設立された。高いレベルの業界関連ニュース、価格コンサルティング、研究報告、業界イベントの企画などを提供することで、世界の鉄鋼業界に貢献している。

1 Arcelor Mittal 7320万トン(欧州のArcelor とインドのMittal Steel の経営統合　Mittal一族43.6%)

2 河北鋼鉄 4020万トン

3 宝鋼集団　3887万トン

4　浦項 Steelers　　3110万トン

5　武鋼集団　3030万トン

6　鞍本集団　2930万トン

7　沙鋼集団　2640万トン

8　新日鐵　2430万トン

9　JFEスチール　2350万トン

10　Tata Steel 　2190万トン