Nippon Steel Blast Furnace Slag Cement and Nippon Steel Cement, both consolidated subsidiaries of Nippon Steel Corporation, will merge on April 1, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen their business foundation and improve customer service and marketing capabilities in a changing market environment, the company announced. The integration is subject to approval at each company’s general shareholders’ meeting.
Nippon Steel’s slag business recycles iron and steel slag generated during steelmaking into environmentally friendly products, including blast furnace slag cement. This supports stable steel production while contributing to Japan’s shift toward a circular economy.
The company noted that Japan’s cement demand is expected to decline due to population trends, while demand for low-carbon, resource-efficient construction materials is set to grow. Blast furnace slag cement and slag-rich concrete products are increasingly recognized for their ability to reduce CO2 emissions.
Nippon Steel is also transitioning to new, lower-carbon steelmaking processes, making continued utilization of steel byproducts, such as slag from next-generation technologies, essential. The planned integration aims to secure a stable manufacturing and sales system for slag cement, reinforce the business platform, and expand effective slag utilization in support of carbon-neutral goals.
