Bangkok--18 Oct--Sahaviriya Steel Industries
SSI UK has recently achieved a major milestone having exported over one million tonnes of steel slab through Teesport, which is one of the largest ports in the UK. This will continuously provide raw material stability to SSI to support strong domestic demand from Q3/2012 onward. The synergy from linking SSI’s Thailand and UK operations is now starting to be realized.
The millionth tonne was loaded on to the Yasa Eagle on Friday 5 October as part of a 64,000 tonne shipment. The vessel sailed from Teesport on Sunday 7 October and is estimated arrive Thailand on 20 November 2012. The latest shipment represents a significant uplift in the handling of slab through Teesport since the plant was mothballed in 2010, and one which has been achieved through the major investment of SSI.
David Robinson, PD Ports’ CEO, commented that "This is a significant milestone reached and one which we are delighted to see achieved. Exporting such a large amount of slab in just five months since production restarted would not have been possible without the strong partnership between PD Ports and SSI UK, and together we aim to deliver an outstanding and first class performance.
“However it remains critically important that all supply chain members and stakeholders, including Government, work together to create a long term and stable platform for SSI UK.”
Phil Dryden, Chief Executive of SSI UK, said that “2012 has beena challenging year for all of the stakeholders associated with the restart of iron and steel making on Teesside, and we are grateful for the wonderful support we have received. I am very pleased that the plant operational performance has met our expectations and that the export route through Teesport has been such a tremendous success. This reflects the very effective working relationship and close cooperation which exists between PD Ports and SSI UK.”
Mr. Win Viriyaprapaikit, Group CEO and President of Sahaviriya Steel Industries Public Company Limited (SSI), revealed that “These 1 million tons of steel generate approximately US$550 million worth of export revenue to the UK and also support SSI operation in Thailand. They provide us the raw material stability to respond to our customers’ strong demand, and help enhance our sales volume from Q3/2012 onward, especially in automobile and construction sectors. We are therefore already starting to see the anticipated synergy from linking our Thailand and UK operations.”
The rebirth of steelmaking on Teesside was celebrated back in April when the region saw the first slabs produced by SSI UK which were then a month later exported from Teesport to Thailand. This investment signalled a tremendous boost to the industrial and manufacturing activity of the region, and highlighted Teesside’s potential to be seen as a place to invest, develop and produce for global markets.