We have three operating divisions: Pipe & tube; Steel sheet, plate & structural steel; and Railway, automotive, machinery parts & other steel. Each division utilizes the advantages of its characteristics while promoting distinctiveness and raising corporate value.

Click below to see further details of each division:

Sales continued to recover steadily in FY2010, in line with an increase in energy demand. Sales prices remained stagnant in the first half of FY2010 due to the impact of low-priced products, orders of which had been received in the previous year. In the second half, however, an increase in sales prices exceeded a rise in raw material prices that emerged from improvement of the demand/supply balance.

Income was stagnant in the first half of FY2010 but bottomed out and kept improving in the second half, thanks to an increase in sales volume and a positive impact from higher sales prices, despite the appreciation of the yen.

Sumitomo Metals will continue to implement stringent cost savings programs and steadily implement measures in preparation for an eventual recovery of energy demand, including progress toward full-scale production of a new seamless pipe mill in Brazil.

Full capacity production of steel sheet and plate continued in the first half of FY2010, thanks to strong demand mainly for automobiles. However, operation of one of the blast furnaces at Kashima Steelworks became unstable in the third quarter and damages caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 resulted to a significant production cut in the second half.

This segment recorded an operating income of 17 billion yen in the first half but turned to make a loss of 1 billion yen in the second half, due to the strong effects of the temporary factors stated above.

The earthquake and the tsunami caused significant damages at Kashima Steelworks but there were no human casualties. On the day after the quake, we put together a roadmap for recovery, made steady progress, and succeeded to restart operation at all plants by the end of April 2011.

As a base to capture strong steel demand in Asia, Sumitomo Metals’ Sheet, Plate & Structural Steel Company is engaged in promoting business in Vietnam, Thailand, and India.

Sales of railway parts continued to be stable. Sales of crankshafts increased significantly, thanks to a recovery in automobile production. In FY2011, crankshaft production volume in the United States, China, and India is expected to exceed that of Japan for the first time.

Regarding specialty steel products, investment and construction for innovative steelmaking processes was completed, enabling the manufacturing of high-quality specialty steel products at low prices. The titanium business is enjoying a growth trend in sales volume and income, in line with a demand recovery in aerospace worldwide.