TOKYO - JFE Steel Corporation announced today that it has signed an agreement with its strategic partner JSW Steel Limited to provide technology for the production of non-oriented electrical steel sheets at the Vijayanagar works in India.

India’s home appliance and industrial motor markets are expected to expand at a stable rate into the future, which will drive demand for non-oriented electrical steel sheets. By leveraging JFE Steel’s well-established manufacturing technology, JSW Steel expects to improve its supply of non-oriented electrical steel sheet to customers, including local companies as well as Japanese-, European- and U.S.-affiliated companies doing business in India. JSW Steel plans to start up its new annealing and coating line for electrical steel sheets in latter half of 2014. Initial annual output is projected to be 200,000 tons.

JFE Steel is already providing JSW Steel with manufacturing technology for automotive steel sheets under a separate agreement. Through this new strategic collaboration, JFE Steel expects to continue growing its involvement in Indian markets for high value-added products.

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