Japan-based JFE steel has restarted its blast furnace No. 4 at Fukuyama works, according to media reports. The announcement to shut the BF had come in April when the integrated steelmaker curtailed its operations and shut furnaces at Fukuyama and Kurashiki. The decision had come in the wake of COVID-19 hurting steel demand in the domestic and international markets alike.
The BF was fired earlier than originally planned in late October. JFE also plans to expedite the refurbishment of the Kurashiki furnace, earlier scheduled in 2021.