May 2006 — Arcelor SSC and Mitsui & Co UK recently signed an agreement for the joint creation of a Steel Service Center in South Africa, dedicated mainly to the automotive industry.

The new company — AMSA Steel Service Centre Pty Ltd. — will be owned 65% by Arcelor and 35% by Mitsui. The new company's service center will process 120,000 tonnes of slit products, rectangular and shaped blanks per year. It will provide storage and services such as just-in-time delivery to its automotive customers.

At the signing ceremony in Luxembourg, Arcelor Senior Executive Vice President Gonzalo Urquijo said: “As the number one steel partner of the global automotive industry we accompany our customers in their global development, providing them with the highest level of performance everywhere around the world. Through this cooperation with Mitsui, our customers will benefit of the combined experiences and best practices of Arcelor and Mitsui in the processing and distribution of steel”.

Ken Abe, Senior Executive Vice President of Mitsui and Managing Director of Mitsui & Co. Europe Plc said “We already have a strong presence in South Africa, where the automotive sector is set for rapid growth, and we are very happy to establish this partnership for our automotive customers with Arcelor in this country.”

Located in the Durban area of South Africa, the new steel service center is to start operations in the second quarter of 2007.

Arcelor is a world leader for the automotive sector and holds leadership positions in its main markets: construction, household appliances and packaging as well as general industry. The company endeavors to further expand internationally in order to capture the growth potential of developing economies and offer technologically advanced steel solutions to its global customers. In 2006, Arcelor employs 110,000 associates in over 60 countries. The company places its commitment to sustainable development at the heart of its strategy and ambitions to be a benchmark for economic performance, labor relations and social responsibility.

Mitsui & Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries and associated companies, is one of Japan's largest general trading companies, trading in a diverse range of goods with business partners in every region of the world. Mitsui also engages in major international infrastructure and other projects, and undertakes sales and marketing, import and export, and international trading and manufacturing in a wide range of business segments including metal products & minerals, machinery, electronics & information, chemicals, energy, and consumer products & services. Mitsui is actively involved in natural resource development, and has strategic business investments including IT and emerging technologies.