A leader in Japan's steel distribution industry

Our long history of providing support in Japan for the distribution and export of steel products, semi-finished products and other items has established Mitsui as a leader in this industry. In April 2008 we enhanced this position by combining four subsidiaries to establish Mitsui & Co. Steel Ltd., aiming to strengthen our sales capabilities and maximize management efficiency. By leveraging our global network and our subsidiaries and associated companies, we have been catering to the needs of customers in Japan and overseas, creating regional distribution systems attuned to the needs of given regions and investing in opportunities for growth and profitability. Looking ahead, we aim to create new value and achieve ongoing growth by expanding our operations with steel manufacturers in Japan and overseas and investing in new products and regions.

Meeting broad customer needs through advanced services

We are focusing our business activities on industries that require steel materials, such as the automotive, shipbuilding, energy and construction industries. We have established steel processing service centers in regions around the world to meet diverse demand from automakers, home appliance makers and heavy industry manufacturers expanding their production networks in the United States, Southeast Asia, China and elsewhere, and have developed systemized, IT-based supply chain management (SCM) solutions. We have moved beyond simple steel distribution and are now providing high value-added services. In 2007 we acquired Steel Technologies, Inc., a leading North American steel processor, and we are actively expanding our operations to include business with non-Japanese automakers and business in other industry sectors. We are taking steps to significantly enhance our position in the long steel products value chain, working with everyone from steel manufacturers through to end-users with the aim of strongly differentiating our services and operating at the forefront of the steel distribution industry.

Hot-rolled steel production line at Siam Yamato Steel Co., Ltd.

Developing alliances with leading partners throughout the world

Cooperation with overseas partners is important for pursuing business globally. In the growing Chinese market, we are teaming up with our partner Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation, China's largest steelmaker, to develop a steel processing network across mainland China to meet the needs of Japanese and overseas automakers and companies from other industries aspiring to develop and expand their operations in China. In India, meanwhile, we have acquired equity in Indian Steel Corporation, Ltd., and in Thailand we have increased our investment in structural steel manufacturer Siam Yamato Steel Co., Ltd. We intend to pursue a similar approach in Russia, Brazil and elsewhere, forming alliances with leading companies and working with other Mitsui business units in areas such as energy, machinery, infrastructure projects and finance to develop our steel supply and processing network.