Four more news in briefs from the steel industry

World crude steel up

For the first eight months 2010, world crude steel output is up 21.9% at 929.9Mt compared with the same period 2009 and up just 0.2% over the same period 2008.

The Middle East and Asia were the regions of greatest growth.

NYK Long-Term Contract with BHP

Shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha has concluded a 12-year contract with BHP Billiton for the transport of iron ore from Western Australia to China.

Shipments will begin from 2013 using a 250000 DWT class ore carrier. The annual volume is expected to be about 2.7Mt. In addition to this 12-year contract, a three-year contract for a 200000 DWT class Capesize bulker started in April 2010.

This is the first long-term deal between NYK and BHP Billiton, greatly strengthening the partnership between the two companies.

RH vacuum degassing for Rourkela

Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has received an order from the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) to supply an RH vacuum degassing plant to the Rourkela Steel Works in the state of Orissa.

The new plant will allow high-quality steel grades up to cold-rolled non-oriented types to be produced. The order is worth €10M. The RH plant is scheduled to come into operation by the middle of 2012.

TMK sees pipe improve

Russia’s TMK saw revenue increase by 73.6% to US$2566.2M from strong seamless and welded pipe sales to meet growth in key markets.

Gross profit increased to $585.8M, a year-on-year increase of 161.7%, as a result of a combination of higher capacity utilisation rates, higher demand and higher prices for pipe products.

Plate heat treatment for Outokumpu

Tenova Core has recently completed the successful start-up of a walking hearth plate heat treating furnace at Outokumpu’s stainless plant located in New Castle, Indiana, USA. The furnace was installed as part of a plant upgrade project.

The walking hearth furnace features state-of-the-art low NOx burners as well as a complete control and automation system that includes an advanced Level 1 tracking system. Tenova Core also designed and supplied a custom jet air and water mist cooling system to reduce the temperature of the stainless plate product after it exits the furnace.