[SMM Steel] El mercado nacional del acero se mantiene estable mientras las medidas de defensa comercial refuerzan la protección contra las importaciones a bajo precio

JFE Steel commenced operations at its newly constructed No. 6 Coke Oven at the Fukuyama area of its West Japan Works on August 31, 2026. The project was built between May 2023 and August 2026 with an investment of approximately JPY 45 billion and has an annual coke production capacity of around 420,000 tonnes. The facility is Japan’s first large-scale coke oven to adopt the stamp-charging method. Unlike conventional top charging, the process compacts coal powder before pushing it horizontally into the oven. According to the supplied article, the new design improves production efficiency and reduces operating costs through better coke quality.

U. S. Steel announced on September 3 that Blast Furnace No. 14 at Gary Works in Indiana had returned to service following the completion of a $350 million reline. The project included the replacement of the furnace’s refractory lining and maintenance of critical supporting systems, including furnace gas, cooling water, hoisting and stove systems. Blast Furnace No. 14 is the largest blast furnace at Gary Works and across U. S. Steel’s operating footprint, with annual hot-metal production capability exceeding two million “tons.”

Australia’s National Environmental Protection Agency has approved an extension of the Saraji open-cut mine in Queensland, operated by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, allowing a further 55 million tonnes of steelmaking coal to be extracted between now and 2055. It is the agency’s first approval of a coal project since it began operations on July 1, 2026. The approval includes conditions intended to protect threatened-species habitats and water resources. The Climate Council estimated that using the coal overseas for steelmaking could generate about 120 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the mine’s remaining life, although this is the organisation’s estimate.