Japan: JFE Steel’s Chiba works faces production disruptions after heavy rains

• Reduction of 600,000 t of crude steel output expected
• JFE expects operations to normalise by mid-Oct’26

JFE Steel announced on 25 September that several facilities at its East Japan Steel Works Chiba district in Chiba city were flooded by heavy rains in August and Typhoon No. 25 in September, resulting in production disruptions. The blast furnace has faced operational issues since mid-August, with the timing of a full recovery remaining uncertain. The disruption is expected to reduce crude steel output by around 600,000 tonnes (t), equivalent to roughly two months of production. JFE expects operations to return to normal levels no later than mid-October.

At a regular press conference on the same day, JFE Steel President Masayuki Hirose, speaking as chairman of the Japan Iron and Steel Federation, said, “I would like to apologise for causing concern and inconvenience to many stakeholders.” He said JFE had previously strengthened measures to protect its steelworks against heavy rainfall, but the latest rainfall exceeded expectations. The company will further strengthen its measures to address future risks.

The only blast furnace at the Chiba area, No. 6, with a furnace volume of 5,153 cubic metres, encountered operational trouble following heavy rains in mid-August. Recovery efforts were further affected by record-breaking rainfall associated with Typhoon No. 25, and the blast furnace continues to operate at low levels.

The disruption is expected to affect shipments of products such as automotive steel plates. Some deliveries have already been delayed, and JFE has started individually coordinating delivery schedules with domestic and overseas customers. The impact will depend on the progress of the recovery.

As of 25 September, some facilities other than the blast furnace also remained suspended. No human casualties have been reported from the heavy rain events, while the impact on JFE’s business performance remains under assessment.

The Chiba area is one of JFE Steel’s major steelworks and specialises mainly in thin steel plates, including automotive steel plates. Crude steel production at the works is expected to be around 3.59 million tonnes (mnt) in the fiscal year ending March 2026. It also produces stainless steel plates and iron powder.

Note: This article is published as part of a content exchange agreement between Japan Metal Daily and BigMint.