As a reliable agent of Japanese steel mills
The iron making raw material business is to provide limited resources worldwide, while the iron and non-ferrous scrap related business is to procure resources which are scattered throughout the world.
We contribute to the stable supply of iron making raw materials as an agent of the Japanese blast furnace steel mills and coke manufacturers.
Iron making raw materials business is visible from the other end of the world.
This is because our business is global. Producers of raw materials, iron ore and metallurgical coal, are limited to a few countries such as Australia and Brazil.
It is important to achieve our mission which is to secure raw materials and to stably supply them to Japan. In the world, approximately 800 million tons of iron ore and over 200 million tons of metallurgical coal per year are delivered by vessels. It is important to grasp the worldwide demand and supply situation continuously for these commodities. By grasping and predicting the current and future production of raw materials and port conditions, we provide high level information to our customers as a solution provider, in order to support their decision making.
Mitsui Bussan Metals address such issues by fully utilizing our worldwide knowledge, know-how and our overseas networks.
【Iron ore】
Iron ore is the key material for iron making, and consists of oxygen and iron atoms bonded together into molecules in natural status. Iron ore reserves at present are vast, and some analysis shows that there are more than 230 billion tons. To convert it to metallic iron, it must be smelted in the blast furnace in order to remove the oxygen. Metallurgical coke is charged into a blast furnace together with iron ore, and used as reductant to take away the combined oxygen from iron ore (it is called "reducing process").
About 800 million tons of iron ore is being traded annually (seaborne trade basis). Japan is 100% reliant on imported iron ore from various countries, such as Australia, Brazil, India and South Africa.
【Coal (Metallurgical Coal, Coking Coal)】
Metallurgical coal consists of coking coal, which is used to produce metallurgical coke, and pulverized coal injection (PCI) coal, which is directly injected into a blast furnace.
Both metallurgical coke and PCI coal are raw materials for iron making. They are charged into the blast furnace together with iron ore, and act as a reducing agent as well as a source of the heat.
About 200 million tons of metallurgical coal is being traded annually (seaborne trade basis). Japan is wholly reliant on imported metallurgical coal from various countries, such as Australia, Canada, Indonesia, China, Russia and the U.S.A.
- Iron ore
- Coal (Metallurgical Coal, Coking Coal)
Contact : ＜Iron ore＞Ota TEL : 81-3-3285-2326
Contact : ＜Coal＞Yamashita TEL : 81-3-3285-2262
