NUCOR-JFE STEEL MEXICO (NJSM), a 50/50 joint venture company between JFE Steel and U.S. steel manufacturer Nucor Corporation, has finished constructing and is now operating a continuous galvanizing line (CGL) to produce hot-dip galvanized steel sheets for automobiles. NJSM, which is located in Silao, Guanajuato in central Mexico, will now begin trial production and progress toward full-scale sales and production once customer approvals have been obtained.

Mexico has attracted attention as a global production base, particularly for vehicles destined for the United States. North America is the world’s second largest automotive market and numerous automakers have already expanded into Mexico. Demand for high-grade steel sheets for automobiles is therefore expected to continue growing steadily.

By combining JFE Steel’s expertise in automotive steel sheet production, quality control and technical service with Nucor’s efficient management techniques and local networks for sales and business, NJSM expects to produce and sell high-quality automotive steel sheets suited to automotive industry requirements in North America.

JFE Steel already produces hot-dip galvanized steel sheets for the global automotive industry in China, Thailand and Indonesia. With NJSM now operating, JFE Steel has expanded into the North American region. JFE Steel is also providing technical assistance related to production of automotive steel to JSW Steel, JFE Steel’s business partner in India.

These manufacturing bases will allow JFE Steel to meet growing demand for local procurement by automotive companies as well as demand for increasingly-advanced products worldwide.

NJSM

Company name:	NUCOR-JFE STEEL MEXICO
Investment ratio:	JFE Steel: 50%, Nucor: 50%
Manufactured product:	Galvanized steel sheets for automotive use
Sales and production start:	February 2020

NJSM’s hot-dip galvanized steel sheet production facility

Manufactured product:	Hot-dip galvanized steel sheets (primarily for automotive use)
Production capacity:	400,000 tons/year
Manufacturing scope:	Sheet thicknesses from 0.4 mm to 2.6 mm Sheet widths from 800 mm to 1,850 mm

NUCOR-JFE STEEL MEXICO

About JFE Steel Corporation

JFE Steel Corporation, one of the world’s leading integrated steel producers, was established through the consolidation of NKK Corporation and Kawasaki Steel Corporation in 2003. The company operates several steelworks in Japan and numerous branch offices and affiliates throughout the world. JFE Steel leverages world-class technologies and know-how to produce a wide range of products based on its “Only One, Number One” strategy of focusing on unique and best-in-class products. The company reported consolidated sales of 3,900 billion yen in 2018 and consolidated crude steel output of 27.88 million tons in the fiscal year ended March 2019.

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