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| 21 May 2007 | |
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 The growing markets of Central and Eastern Europe are opening up exciting new opportunities for Corus, the international steel company. Over the past year, the wire rod business has doubled the volume of automotive component steels it supplies into the region and tripled its customer base in these emerging economies. Consistent supplies of wire rod are now being delivered into Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia, where Corus has attracted a host of new customers in the past 12 months. A first batch of high-quality steel has also been sent into Russia, opening up a new supply route into a market that is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. “We recognise the importance of these countries in the future of Europe, and we are delighted that our premium-quality steels and delivery capabilities are meeting the aspirations of rod processors in the area,” says Sales Manager, Grant McBain. “There are some major car plants in the region and the market is growing strongly. We are supplying a range of automotive spring, machining and cold-heading steels. The rate of adoption of our steel here has been faster than we have seen anywhere else in the world, with sales last year up by almost 70 per cent.” Supporting this eastern expansion is the network of Corus offices across the region. There are now knowledgeable wire rod representatives working in Prague, Budapest, Kiev, Poland and Moscow. “We have tried and proved our transport routes into the region,” adds Grant. “Using unit loads by lorry enables us to maintain exceptional delivery condition from the UK, with minimal handling. This is essential for our sensitive, premium-grade steels.” Through a collaboration with the University of Gent in Belgium, the wire rod business is also exploring optimum logistics routes into eastern Europe and beyond. We are working with academics and customers to develop supply-chain strategies that will enable us to offer UK levels of service and availability across Europe. Grant adds: “We know we have the quality of product demanded by customers in the area, and we are building our cultural understanding through local offices. Now we are working to develop an optimum service package that will meet the market’s long-term needs.”
Press release can be downloaded from websites: www.automotivepr.com and www.corusautomotive.com Corus Automotive media enquiries: Marco Ferrari +44 (0)207 494 8050 mferrari@automotivepr.com Belle Wilson +44 (0) 207 494 8050 bwilson@automotivepr.com Corus National media enquiries: Annanya Sarin, Corporate Relations Tel. +44 (0) 20 7717 4532 About Corus Corus is Europe's second largest steel producer with revenues of £9.7 billion and crude steel production of 18.2 million tonnes in 2006, primarily in the UK and the Netherlands. Combining international expertise with local customer service, the Corus brand represents quality and strength, providing innovative solutions to the construction, automotive, packaging, mechanical engineering and other markets worldwide. Corus is a subsidiary of Tata Steel, the world's fifth largest and second most global steel producer. With a combined presence in nearly 50 countries, Tata Steel including Corus has 84,000 employees across five continents and a pro forma crude steel production of 27 million tonnes in 2007. Corus in Automotive Corus is one of the leading suppliers of steel products, services and technology to the automotive industry. A broad range of Corus steels, ranging from strip and engineering steels to tubes, are used by our customers to make products that are used in body-in-white, closures, chassis and suspension systems, powertrain, seating systems, safety systems, interior trim and other components. Corus is committed to the global automotive industry, uniquely combining its materials and vehicle engineering knowledge to respond cost-effectively to key drivers of importance to the sector, such as safety, fuel-efficiency, innovation and the environment. The Company actively supports supply chain initiatives that improve efficiency and enhance the value of steel used in automotive applications. For further information, view the Corus automotive website (www.corusautomotive.com).
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